Three People Found Guilty of Drug Conspiracy Charges

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that on August 30, 2013, three people were found guilty of drug conspiracy charges following a federal jury trial in U.S. District Court in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Theresa Vocu, age 45, of Kyle, South Dakota, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; and Zeno Little, age 57, of Porcupine, South Dakota, and Wesley Yellow Horse Sr., age 57, of Oglala, South Dakota, were each found guilty of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Vocu faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and/or a $1,000,000 fine. Little and Yellow Horse face not more than five years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.

A drug conspiracy investigation began on or about October of 2008, and it resulted in federal charges against 18 individuals: Abraham Romero; Richard Marshall; Lorenzo Camacho Tarango, a/k/a Lencho, a/k/a Lecho; Reyes Chavez-Rojo; Billi American Horse; Jimmy Bravo; Elwanda Fire Thunder; Kimberly Janis; Zeno Little; Norton Little Spotted Horse; Moses Montileaux, Jr.; Moses Montileaux, Sr.; Whisper Montileaux; Stephanie Standing Soldier; Edward Vocu; Theresa Vocu; Cassie Winters; and Wesley Yellow Horse, Sr.

During the course of the conspiracy, Romero would receive marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine from Chavez-Rojo and Lencho and other persons, and then the remaining above-named individuals and other persons conspired to distribute and/or distributed marijuana, cocaine, and/or methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Prior to the guilty verdicts on August 30, 2013, the other 15 defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance(s).

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted L. McBride and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Shattuck.

Sentencing dates for Vocu, Little, and Yellow Horse have not been set.