United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that April Pretends Eagle, age 31, of Fort Yates, North Dakota appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 25, 2013 and pled guilty to Count III of the Indictment that charged her with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both; at least 2 years of supervised release and an additional term of up to 2 years of supervised release upon revocation. Restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund may also be ordered.
The charge stems from an investigation of burglaries in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Based on information developed during the investigation, a criminal investigator with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe obtained a tribal search warrant for co-Defendant Philip LaBatte’s residence, where Pretends Eagle was staying. When law enforcement executed the search warrant, they found at least 250 grams, but less than 1 kilogram, of marijuana along with a scale, rolling papers, and a grinder. LaBatte’s residence was in Eagle Butte.
The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.
Pretends Eagle was released on bond pending sentencing which has been set for Sept. 11, 2013.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
