Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced that Ellery Zephier, a resident of Marty, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. The sentencing, delivered by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, occurred on April 25, 2025. Zephier, aged 39, will also face five years of supervised release following his imprisonment, alongside a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $22,260 in restitution.
Indicted in August 2024, Zephier's case went to trial in January, where he was found guilty of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Kidnapping. The conviction arises from incidents during July 20-25, 2024, when Zephier kidnapped and detained a woman in his Marty residence, causing her serious physical harm.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office under the Major Crimes Act, which requires that violent crimes in Indian Country be tried in federal court. The FBI and the Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Petersen and Ann M. Hoffman led the prosecution.
Following the sentencing, Zephier was transferred into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
