Three Men Sentenced for Arson (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota) Acting U.S. Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced that on July 12, 2010, Troy Trottier, John Houle and Brock Chidester were each sentenced to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and six counts of arson.  Trottier was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison, Houle was sentenced to two years in federal prison and Chidester was sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison.  According to court documents, the men admitted that on Dec. 13, 2008, they started six random house fires on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/pressreleases/index.html

Two Guilty of Killing and Selling Bald and Golden Eagles (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington) U.S. Attorney James A. McDevitt announced on July 12, 2010, that Alfred L. Hawk Jr., and William R. Wahsise pleaded guilty to killing bald eagles and conspiring to take and sell bald and golden eagle parts in violation of federal law.  According to court documents, Hawk and Wahsise, both Yakama tribal members, hunted and killed eagles by baiting them with wild horses that were killed to attract the eagles.  In March 2009, wildlife agents seized 21 golden eagle tails, 30 golden eagle wings, 31 bald eagle tails and two bald eagle wings from Hawk’s residence and approximately five golden eagle tails, 22 golden eagle wings, and assorted feathers from golden eagles and bald eagles from Wahsise’s residence.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/wae/press–releases/2010/july10.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Assault (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Billy Ray Earl McCloskey appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on July 9, 2010, and pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.  The charge relates to McCloskey assaulting another man with a knife on Jan. 12, 2010, in Todd County, S.D.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Barry Joe White Face appeared before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on July 9, 2010, and pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor.  In December 2006 near Kyle, S.D., White Face engaged in sexual contact with a child under 16.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html

Idaho Man Indicted for Nez Perce Reservation Assault (U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho) U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson announced on July 9, 2010, that Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez, made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on an indictment charging him with assault.  The indictment alleges that on May 18, 2009, Rodriguez assaulted Jeffory Talbott by striking, beating and wounding him.  Talbott is an Idaho State Trooper.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/id/public–info/public–info.html

Cigarette Broker and Warehouse Co-Owner Sentenced for Trafficking Untaxed Cigarettes (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington)

U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan announced on June 9, 2010, that two people who conspired to sell contraband cigarettes to tribal smoke shops in Washington were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Seattle.  Rick Conn, a cigarette broker based in California, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, three years of supervised release and more than $20 million in restitution for conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  Carol M. Silverman, who owned a cigarette distribution business and controlled a Clackamas, Ore., warehouse, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison, three years of supervised release and more than $18 million in restitution.  Conn and Silverman were indicted in September 2009, in connection with a scheme to sell contraband (untaxed) cigarettes to Blue Stilly Smoke Shop, located on the Stillaguamish reservation, near Arlington, Wash.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/waw/press/index.html

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Assault (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Nicholas Alan Rivers was sentenced to 40 months in custody, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund for assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  Rivers was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2009.  The charge stemmed from the May 2009 assault of a two-year-old child.  Rivers admitted he became angry with the child’s behavior and shook the child.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html

San Carlos Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Injury (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke announced on July 8, 2010, that Jerald John Dillon, a member of the San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.  Dillon pleaded guilty on April 15, 2010, to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  On March 9, 2009, Dillon and the victim were socializing and consuming alcohol on the San Carlos Community.  During a brief argument, the victim dared Dillon to hit him.  Dillon picked up a 2x4 board and struck the victim in the head, causing serious injury to the victim, including a moderate skull fracture.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press–releases/index.html

Man Sentenced to 41 Months for Robbery (U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico) U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced on July 8, 2010, that Fred Blueeyes Jr., IV, of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Browning to 41 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release of three years.  Blueeyes Jr., IV pleaded guilty on March 24, 2010, to robbery.  The offense occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/index.html

San Carlos Man Sentenced to 235 Months in Federal Prison for Second Degree Murder (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke announced on July 7, 2010, that Patrick Hinton, a member of the San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe, was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison.  Hinton pleaded guilty on April 15, 2010, to second degree murder.  On April 11, 2009, Hinton and the victim were socializing and consuming alcohol on the San Carlos Community.  During a brief argument, defendant recklessly pointed a .22 caliber rifle at the victim with the intent to frighten her.  The rifle then discharged, the bullet striking the victim in the head, causing her death.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press–releases/index.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Assault and Voluntary Manslaughter (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that William Elmer Yellow, Jr., pleaded guilty on July 7, 2010, to a superseding information that charged assault with a dangerous weapon and voluntary manslaughter.  The charges relate to two separate incidents.  The first incident occurred in March 2010 when Yellow assaulted an Eagle Butte, S.D., man with a knife following an argument and killed him.  The second incident occurred in February 2010 when Yellow assaulted a different Eagle Butte man with a knife.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/Media.html

Elmer Burpee Yarlott Sentenced in U.S. District Court (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana) U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on July 8, 2010, Elmer Burpee Yarlott was sentenced to 400 months in prison for aggravated sexual abuse.     In 2007, the FBI received a report that a young girl had been sexually abused numerous times in approximately the spring of 2001 by Yarlott, an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe.  The young girl was approximately 6 years old at the time of the abuse and Yarlott had lived with her and her mother in Lame Deer, Mont.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/last20.html

Donna Mae Little Dog and Cletus Running Wolf Sentenced in U.S. District Court (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)

U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session on July 7, 2010, Donna Mae Little Dog was sentenced to14 months in prison and Cletus Running was sentenced to 12 months in prison.  Little Dog was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to theft from an Indian tribal organization and Running Wolf was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to aiding and abetting in a theft from an Indian tribal organization.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/last20.html

Man Sentenced to 92 Months for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced on July 7, 2010, that Bryan Comanche, of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced to 92 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release of three years.  Comanche was found guilty at trial on Dec. 8, 2009, of two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  The offenses occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Mescalero Reservation.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/index.html

Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Sexual Abuse of a Minor U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced on July 7, 2010, that Jasper Troy Cook, of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release of three years.  Cook pleaded guilty on March 2, 2010, to sexual abuse of a minor.  The offense occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/index.html

Man Sentenced to 20 months for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced on July 6, 2010, that Keith Mutte, of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release of three years.  Mutte was convicted on March 24, 2010, of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  The offense occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Zuni Reservation.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/pr/index.html