Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A man from Rapid City, South Dakota, has been sentenced to over ten years in federal prison for voluntary manslaughter. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on June 6, 2025.
Vincent Boesem, 32, received a sentence of ten years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Boesem was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023 and pleaded guilty on March 14, 2025. The incident occurred between July 3 and July 4, 2022, when Boesem and his elderly uncle were drinking together at the uncle's home on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine, Boesem became enraged and assaulted his uncle severely. Although he called for medical assistance via 911, the victim did not survive his injuries.
The case fell under federal jurisdiction due to the Major Crimes Act, which requires certain violent crimes in Indian country to be prosecuted federally rather than at the state level.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox led the prosecution.
Following sentencing, Boesem was placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
