United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribal prosecutor was sworn in as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney on Sept. 22, 2017.
Debra C. Flute was sworn in by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange during a ceremony at the Federal Courthouse in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Ms. Flute is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe and is the Tribe’s Senior in-house Attorney and tribal prosecutor. Debra has primarily practiced Federal Indian Law, Criminal Law, and served on the SD Board of Pardons and Parole from 2008 to 2014. Debra received her BS from Pennsylvania State University and her JD from the University of North Dakota School of Law.
The Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe is located in the northeastern part of South Dakota, with land in both South and North Dakota. As a tribal prosecutor, Flute handles matters that arise on tribal land. While the majority of her prosecutions revolve around matters for crimes committed by tribal members, Flute also has the ability to charge non-tribal members for crimes involving domestic violence occurring on tribal land. This ability stems from the tribe’s decision to adopt provisions contained in the Violence Against Women Act, which increased the Tribe’s jurisdiction. In addition, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe has adopted the provisions of the Tribal Law and Order Act, which enabled the Tribe to impose a sentence of up to three years for felonies committed within its jurisdiction.
Recently the Tribe has been looking for ways to combat the growing methamphetamine problem plaguing its members. By entering into an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, having Flute designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, the Tribe is hopeful this will stem the tide of drugs and drug related crimes that are plaguing its communities. Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Flute stated, “This is a tremendous opportunity for our Tribe to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other federal agencies to take the lead in the fight against methamphetamine and other drugs that are decimating communities in northeastern South Dakota."
U.S. Attorney Seiler added, “The use of illegal drugs is becoming an epidemic in our state and on our reservations. To have a seasoned tribal prosecutor the caliber of Debra Flute will be a tremendous asset to enhance our proactive measures to combat drugs infiltrating the Native American culture."
Discussions are on-going regarding the formation of a regional Tribal, State, and Federal drug task force covering the counties that make up the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
