Armund George Bull Tail 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 Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, ARMUND GEORGE BULL TAIL, a 21-year-old resident of Crow Agency, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon/aiding and abetting. Sentencing has been set for July 30, 2010. He is currently detained.

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

During the early morning hours of May 28, 2009, the victim, BULL TAIL, and his juvenile brother were drinking at the victim's house in Crow Agency, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation. The victim had given the brothers a ride earlier in the evening and brought them to his house. The brothers needed a ride to Billings and the victim agreed to give them a ride the next day.

At some point, everyone except the victim, BULL TAIL, and his brother left the house. The victim, who had won quite a bit of money at the poker machines earlier in the night, gave his mother the keys to his car and his money (his parents lived in a nearby house), and then went into his house and passed out.

At some point, one of the brothers tried to nudge him awake. Then BULL TAIL struck him with a wooden bar stool. The victim tried to cover himself to protect himself as BULL TAIL's brother grabbed another stool and hit him. One of the first hits was to the victim's face and, after that, he could not see. He felt both brothers beating him and then one of the brothers broke a bottle over his head. During this time, he was screaming for help and he heard them say, "let's just kill him." They then beat him some more and then searched his pockets and the house.

After the assault, the victim crawled to his parent's house because he was worried that BULL TAIL and his brother would hurt his parents.

The victim was airflighted to Billings with serious and numerous facial fractures and lacerations. He was breathing through a tracheotomy tube when interviewed the first time and had to write answers to questions.

BULL TAIL was interviewed. After lying several times about not being involved, he finally admitted that he struck the victim with a stool. He said he did so because the victim was fighting with his little brother and winning the fight. He then said that his little brother "went too far" in beating up the victim.

BULL TAIL faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.