Joseph Daniel Little Coyote, Sr. Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on April 28, 2010, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, JOSEPH DANIEL LITTLE COYOTE, SR., a 67-year-old resident of Lame Deer/Ashland, pled guilty to (5) counts of distribution of marijuana to persons under the age of 21. Sentencing has been set for July 28, 2010. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

LITTLE COYOTE came under investigation when the FBI received information that he had been routinely providing marijuana to juveniles on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation for a number of years. It was alleged that LITTLE COYOTE allowed them to smoke his marijuana with him as well as gave them marijuana to smoke on their own. A number of juveniles gave statements to law enforcement about LITTLE COYOTE's marijuana usage and his giving them marijuana to smoke in 2005 and 2006, and in some cases, continuing until recently.

Evidence at trial would have been presented by a number of juveniles and adults who either received such distributions or were present when others did. LITTLE COYOTE did not distribute for any monetary gain and the amount he distributed is unknown.

LITTLE COYOTE faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and 4 years supervised release on each count.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.