United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse and Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Person Under Age Twenty-One.
Jeremy Richards, age 28, was indicted in August of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on Sept. 2, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that in August of 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, Richards distributed methamphetamine to a victim who was under the age of 21, and that he engaged in a sexual act with that victim while she was incapable of declining participation in the sexual act. The indictment further alleges that between Jan. 1, 2021, and Jan. 1, 2022, in Todd County, Richards distributed methamphetamine to two other individuals who were under the age of 21.
The charges are merely accusations and Richards is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.
Richards 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
