United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Okreek, South Dakota, woman and a Mission, South Dakota, man have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. In addition, a Winner, South Dakota, man and a St. Francis, South Dakota, woman were indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Rainbow Stoneman, age 37, Cody Spotted Tail, age 33, Justin Covery, a/k/a Justin Night Shield, age 19, and Marti Rosalie Whirlwind Soldier, age 22, were indicted on Dec. 11, 2018. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on Feb. 21, 2019. All four individuals pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or an $8,000,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each Count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning no later than Oct. 15, 2018, and continuing to Nov. 2, 2018, Stoneman, Spotted Tail, Covery, and Night Shield knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in the District of South Dakota. The Indictment further alleges that Stoneman and Spotted Tail are unlawful users of and addicted to a controlled substance, which prohibits them from possessing firearms, but that they were in possession of a firearm at the time of their arrest.
The charges are merely accusations and Stoneman, Spotted Tail, Covery, and Night Shield are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity. Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers. It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Stoneman, Spotted Tail, Covery, and Night Shield were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
