Dupree Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Dupree man charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer was sentenced on December 7, 2011, by United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Maka Akan Inaji Frazier, a/k/a Najin Frazier, age 18, was sentenced to 12 months in custody, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.

Frazier was indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon and assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer by a federal grand jury on June 7, 2011. The conviction for assaulting and resisting a federal officer was the result of an incident on June 3, 2011, near Dupree, where Frazier forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with Ziebach County Sheriff Robert Menzel, and such act involved physical contact.

The incident occurred while Sheriff Robert Menzel was assisting federal law enforcement officers. Those federal officers were Cheyenne River Sioux tribal police officers. On June 3, 2011, the defendant had been stopped for suspected driving under the influence and then ran from the tribal officer, instigating a high-speed vehicle chase. During the pursuit of Frazier’s vehicle, the defendant’s vehicle struck the back of Sheriff Menzel’s patrol car, causing it to go into the ditch. Frazier pled guilty on September 14, 2011.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division, and the Ziebach County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.

Frazier will report to the United States Marshals Service on December 27, 2011, to begin serving his sentence.