United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that ten individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances in South Dakota between 1993 and 2013. The individuals charged include the following:
• Leslie “Luke" Pond, 52, of Wounded Knee
• Marvin Boltz, 49, of Manderson
• Robert Dale Martin, 46, of Manderson
• Tricia Lee Pond, 41, of Pine Ridge
• Greg Lynn Pond, 44, of Pine Ridge
• Charles Lee Richards, 42, of Pine Ridge
• Kelcey L. Twiss, 24, of Pine Ridge
• Brandon Charles Schreiner, 26, of Pine Ridge
• Sam Bear Robe, 37, of Pine Ridge
• Ronald Two Bulls, 65, of Pine Ridge
All defendants were indicted on Feb. 20, 2013 for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana. All defendants listed above, with the exception of Marvin Boltz, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on Feb. 25, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment. Boltz appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on Feb. 28, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment. The penalty upon conviction is not less than 5 years of imprisonment and up to 40 years of imprisonment and/or $5,000,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations and each individual is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Fall River County Sheriff’s Office, and Fall River State’s Attorney’s Office. Homeland Security Investigations also assisted with the investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Shattuck is prosecuting the case. Greg Pond, Boltz, Martin, Twiss, Bear Robe, and Two Bulls were released on bond pending trial. Leslie “Luke" Pond, Tricia Pond, Richards, and Schreiner were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has been set for April 30, 2013.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
