Oklahoma Man to Serve 39 Months in Prison for Burglary in Indian Country (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma)

U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats announced on Aug. 24, 2010, that Collins R. Roubideaux Jr., 30, of Ponca City, Okla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tim Leonard to serve 39 months in federal prison for second degree burglary.  On Aug. 29, 2009, Roubideaux broke into a dwelling of another person in Kay County, Okla., with the intent to steal property inside. Federal jurisdiction exists because Roubideaux is an American Indian and the crime was committed within Indian Country at the Tonkawa Tribe’s Fort Oakland community in Kay County.

www.justice.gov/usao/okw/index.html

Montana Man Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana) U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, Mont., on Aug. 24, 2010, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, Karsen Wayne Bushman pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting malicious mischief.  On Dec. 9, 2006, Bushman and another individual entered the Nemont Water Conditioning building in Wolf Point, Mont., within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.  Bushman and the other individual gained access to the building by a key obtained by Bushman through his employment with the Nemont Water Company.  Bushman and the other individual stole approximately $30 in money, wrecked the office, and one of the two set the building on fire from the inside.  The Nemont Water Building was completely destroyed by the fire.    



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

Federal Court Arraignments in Montana ((U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana) U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Billings, Mont., on Aug. 24, 2010, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, Douglas Lorenzo Bixby, a 34-year-old resident of Lame Deer, Mont., appeared on a charge of involuntary manslaughter on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.  U.S. Attorney Cotter also announced that Lemuel Thomas “Butch” Small, 63, and Christina Pilkington Small, 62, each appeared on a charge of being a felon-in-possession of firearms.



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

Minnesota Man Sentenced for Assaulting Woman over Three-Day Period (U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota) U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones announced on Aug. 24, 2010 that a 30-year-old Red Lake man was sentenced in federal court in Minneapolis for assaulting a woman on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced Corey Randall Roberts to 63 months in prison on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to this crime. In addition, Roberts was ordered to pay $2,340 in restitution to the Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board.  In his plea agreement, Roberts admitted he and the victim argued on Nov. 4, 2009, and during the course of that argument, he punched her in the head causing severe bruises to the victim’s face. He also admitted that over the following three days, he continued to assault the woman by choking her and repeatedly kicking her in the chest and ribs. In addition, Roberts admitted choking the victim to the point of unconsciousness.

www.justice.gov/usao/mn/press.html

Fifteen-Year Sentence for Child Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota) Acting U.S. Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced that on Aug.23, 2010, Francis M. Baker, Jr., 36, of McLaughlin, S.D., was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.  Judge Hovland sentenced Baker to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Baker must pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund. Baker was ordered to register as a sex offender.  Baker pleaded guilty to the charge on May 18, 2010. Baker admitted that from between September 1995 to August 2002, on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, he engaged in a sexual act with a child under 12 years of age.

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

South Dakota Man Charged with Embezzlement (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Kenneth Mark Walking Elk, also known as Kenneth Howard Jr., 65, of Little Eagle, S.D., appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on Aug. 23, 2010, and pleaded guilty to an information that charged him with embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization.  The charges relate to Walking Elk’s embezzlement of more than $1,000 of money funds and assets that belonged to the Running Antelope District, a subdivision of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. 

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

Father and Son Plead Guilty to Digging up Native American Artifacts (U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho) U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced that Eddie Leroy Anderson, 67, and Eddie Joseph Anderson Jr., 33, of Orofino, Idaho, father and son, both pleaded guilty on Aug. 23, 2010, to violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.  At the plea hearing, the defendants admitted that on April 7, 2009, they went to the Salmon River Canyon, near the mouth of Graves Creek, which is in Idaho County and on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).  The Andersons went there looking for “chips” or arrowheads. The younger Anderson, with his father’s tools and with his knowledge, dug several holes, sifted soil, and discovered “chips” or arrowheads. Such conduct on BLM land is prohibited without a permit.

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

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Little Eagle, S.D., man charged with assault with a dangerous weapon was sentenced on Aug. 23, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.  Isaiah Farrell, 19, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.  Farrell was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 15, 2009 for assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assaulting a federal officer.  The charge relates to Farrell unlawfully assaulting another person with a shovel on June 12, 2009, in Corson County, S.D.  Farrell pleaded guilty to the charge on Nov. 24, 2009.

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

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man charged with sexual abuse was sentenced on Aug. 23, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.  Peter Lloyd Bull Bear, 23, of Allen, S.D., was sentenced to 18 months in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.  Bull Bear was indicted for sexual abuse by a federal grand jury in February 2010 and pleaded guilty to the charge in June 2010.  He admitted to engaging in a sexual act with a woman who, at the time, was sleeping in her bed, and therefore was incapable of knowing what was happening to her at the time.

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South Dakota Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls, S.D., woman charged with involuntary manslaughter was sentenced on Aug. 20, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken.  Misty Randall, aka Misty Eagle Elk, 27, was sentenced to 51months of in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 victim assessment.  Randall was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 20, 2009.  On Aug. 24, 2009, Randall, while under the influence of alcohol, hit Jason Wilcox with a car while driving in an unsafe manner, killing him.  After a trial, a federal jury convicted Randall of the offense on June 9, 2010.

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

Dominion & Marathon Oil to Pay $6.9 Million to Resolve Allegations of Royalty Underpayments from American Indian and Federal Lands (PAO)

The Department of Justice announced on Aug. 20, 2010, that Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc. and Marathon Oil Company have agreed to pay the United States $2,219,974.98 and $4,697,476.57, respectively, to resolve claims that the two companies separately violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying royalties owed on natural gas produced from federal and Indian leases.  Marathon is among the world’s leading integrated energy companies with operations around the globe, and Dominion is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy.  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM) (formerly known as the Minerals Management Service) of the U.S. Department of the Interior is responsible for collecting and disbursing royalties from energy production that occurs on federal and American Indian lands, both on shore and offshore.  Each month, companies are required to report to BOEM the value of the natural gas produced from their federal and Indian leases and to pay a percentage of the reported value as royalties.  These settlements resolve claims that Dominion and Marathon improperly deducted from royalty values the cost of boosting gas up to pipeline pressures, and that Dominion improperly reported processed gas as unprocessed gas to reduce royalty payments.

www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/August/10-civ-942.html

Montana Man Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana) U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Billings, Mont., on Aug. 19, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, Richard Eugene Lonebear, a 39-year-old resident of Lame Deer, Mont., pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact.  In an offer of proof, the government stated it would have proved at trial that on the morning of Aug. 12, 2009, the victim, age 5, was with her mother at Lonebear and his wife’s house in Lame Deer.  Lonebear’s wife was babysitting the victim while the victim’s mother slept on a couch at the house.  While driving home that day, the victim told her mom that Lonebear tried to put his hand down her pants.



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

Montana Woman Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court (U.S. Attorney for the District of Monana) U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Billings, Mont., on Aug. 18, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, Katrinda Sarah Plain Bull, a 28-year-old resident of Lodge Grass, Mont., pleaded guilty to robbery/aiding and abetting. Sentencing has been set for Nov. 19.  During the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2009, Otis Yellow Mule and Plain Bull knocked on the door of the victim’s house in Wyola, Mont., which is within the boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation, wanting to come inside. The victim refused to let them in her house, so Yellow Mule sprayed the victim with pepper spray while Plain Bull pushed her way into the victim’s house. The victim fled out of the back door of her house and ran to the home of a neighbor.  Yellow Mule and Plain Bull stole the victim's purse and a box containing prescription medications.



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

Montana Woman Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana) U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Billings, Mont., on Aug. 18, 2010, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, Kassie Anita Birdinground, a 19-year-old resident of Crow Agency, Mont., pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  In an offer of proof, the government stated it would have proved at trial that during the early morning hours of July 11, 2009, a female individual was in a car that was broken down on the side of the road when she was picked up by Birdinground and two of Birdinground’s friends. All were drinking and the female individual (the victim) was very drunk. At some point, while driving around Lodge Grass, Mont., which is within the exterior boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation, Birdinground stopped the car and pulled the victim out of the car. Birdinground punched the victim, kicked her, beat her with the victim's belt, and then beat her with a wooden stick. Birdinground’s friends hit and kicked the victim as well. They then left the victim at the scene of the assault.



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

Former Public Utilities Employee Sentenced for Theft (U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota) Acting U.S. Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced on Aug. 17, 2010, that Nancy Laducer, 45, of Dunseith, N.D., was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland for an offense of theft from an Indian tribal organization. Nancy Laducer pleaded guilty to the offense on May 4, 2010.  Judge Hovland sentenced Laducer to two years of probation, including 10 months of home detention with electronic monitoring, $35,000 restitution, and $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.  Laducer was employed with the Belcourt Public Utilities Commission (BPUC), an entity of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. As the secretary and bookkeeper, Laducer was responsible for the finances for BPUC. When management officials became suspicious about missing money, a forensic audit was conducted, which revealed a shortage of deposits totaling $244,618.85. Laducer admitted to allowing other employees to write personal checks and take money from BPUC, with the intent to pay the money back before the checks were deposited. Eventually, Laducer stopped depositing the checks and the money was never paid back. Laducer also admitted that she wrote personal checks to BPUC, received money, and then never deposited her checks in a BPUC account and never paid back the money.

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

Federal Indictment Filed Against Bridgeo Martino Phillips Sr. (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina)

U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tompkins of the Western District of North Carolina announced on Aug. 17, 2010, that Bridgeo Martino Phillips Sr., 28, of Philadelphia, Miss., an enrolled member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, has been indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte, N.C., on one count charging second degree murder in connection with an incident which allegedly took place on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Jackson County, N.C., on Aug. 14, 2010.  According to information contained in official court documents, Phillips is charged in a federal bill of indictment with one count of second degree murder. In a separate and unrelated case, U.S. Attorney Tompkins announced that Billy Jack Hicks, 38, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, of Whittier, N.C., has been charged in federal bills of indictment alleging federal firearms violations. Hicks is charged with one count alleging the defendant to be an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, and being in possession of a Smith & Wesson .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, in violation of federal law.

www.justice.gov/usao/ncw/press/index.html

Soo Tribe Member Convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan) U.S. Attorney Donald A. David announced on Aug. 17, 2010, that Donald Steven Alexander, 47, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 after a two-day jury trial. The jury found that Alexander engaged in a sexual act with a 7 year-old child at his residence located on land held in trust by the U.S. for the use of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in 2001.

www.justice.gov/usao/miw/press/index.html

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Larceny (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Alfred Dupris, 21, of Cherry Creek, S.D., appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on Aug. 16, 2010, and pleaded guilty to count II of the indictment that charged him with larceny.  The charge relates to Dupris aiding and abetting the unlawful entry of the Cherry Creek Boys and Girls Club in March 2009 with the intent to commit larceny.  The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

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

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that David Anthony Lee Marshall, age 50, of White River, S.D., appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on August 16, 2010, and pleaded guilty to count II of the indictment that charged him with aggravated sexual abuse of a child.  The charge relates to Marshall knowingly causing a child, who had not attained the age of 12 years, to engage in a sexual act with him between 2002 and 2005 in the Horse Creek Community.

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

South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal Officer (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota) U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Duane Rouse, III, 21, of Marty, S.D., appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on Aug.16, 2010, and pleaded guilty to an indictment that charged him with assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer.  On March 5, 2010, the Yankton Sioux Tribal Police Department received a call about someone threatening to break windows at a residence in Marty.  Law enforcement officers arrived and found Rouse trying to unlock a padlock on a door to a residence.  Rouse was very combative and argumentative.  He became disruptive and attempted to approach the officer with closed fists. Rouse was eventually tasered by law enforcement, handcuffed and taken into custody.