Mission Man Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Charges

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Clement Paul Valandra, age 58, of Mission, appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on August 22, 2011, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, marijuana. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.

On September 10, 2010, Rosebud Sioux Tribe law enforcement executed a tribal search warrant at Clement Paul Valandra’s residence. Law enforcement found two plastic baggies with 3.8 ounces (107.73 grams) of marijuana in a Budweiser box at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom. They also found a container with .93 ounces (26.365 grams) of marijuana in the bedroom. Another 15.876 grams of marijuana were found within the room. Several more items were found in desk in a separate room, including a total of $1,461 in cash, an envelope with various names and dollar amounts, a plastic bag containing 4.2 grams of cocaine (840 grams of marijuana converted), a box of sandwich bags, a plastic bag containing smaller zip lock bags with a Nike “swoosh” symbol on them, a digital weight scale with cocaine and marijuana residue on it, and a baggie with a white powdery substance inside. Various items of paraphernalia, a black address book, and a memory card were also seized. Valandra possessed the marijuana with intent to distribute it.

The $1,461 was obtained by Valandra, directly or indirectly, as a result of selling controlled substances and was intended to be used in any manner or part to facilitate the purchase of additional controlled substances for resale.

The investigation was conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay Miller.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for November 16, 2011. The defendant was released pending sentencing.