Two Men Indicted on Meth Trafficking Charges

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two St. Francis, South Dakota, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Charles Little Elk, III, a/k/a Charlie Little Elk, age 37, and Todd Eastman, Jr., age 32, were indicted on July 16, 2020.  They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 6, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life in prison and/or a $10,000,000 fine, at least 5 years, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count.  Restitution may also be ordered. 

The Indictment alleges that a conspiracy began on or about January 1, 2015, and continued to on or about January 17, 2017, where Little Elk and Eastman knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

The charges are merely accusations and Little Elk and Eastman are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Little Elk and Eastman were released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.