United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, and Child Abuse.
Colt Shaw, age 30, was indicted on March 9, 2020. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 22, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in federal prison and/or a $5,000,000 fine, at least 4 years of supervised release, and $300 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that beginning at time unknown but no later than on or about Jan. 1, 2019, and continuing to on or about March 9, 2020, Shaw conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on and around the Rosebud Sioux Indian reservation. Further, on or about November 9, 2019, and July 7, 2019, Shaw, knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly possessed several firearms. Finally, on or about July 7, 2019, Shaw abused, exposed, tortured, tormented, and cruelly punished a child who had not attained the age of seven.
The charges are merely accusations and Shaw is 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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.
Shaw was 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
