Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Distributing Marijuana on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 21, 2011 |
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge man charged with distribution of a controlled substance was sentenced on July 15, 2011, by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken. James Franco, age 39, was sentenced to one year of probation and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.
Franco was indicted for distribution of a controlled substance by a federal grand jury on November 17, 2010. The charge relates to Franco distributing 10 plastic bags containing 12.3 grams of marijuana to a person at Pine Ridge on June 3, 2009. He pled guilty to the charge on April 15, 2011.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team. Special Assistant United States Attorney Ted L. McBride prosecuted the case.