Allen Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Allen, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on November 29, 2023.

Llewellyn John Running Hawk, age 48, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Additional restitution may apply.

Running Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 6, 2023.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on November 19, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota. On that date, Running Hawk had been consuming alcoholic beverages, and was driving a motor vehicle eastbound on US Highway 18. The victim, an adult female, was riding in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. As Running Hawk approached a curve at a high rate of speed, he lost control of the vehicle and left the roadway. The vehicle rolled multiple times, causing the victim to be ejected from the vehicle. The victim died as a result of injuries suffered in the wreck.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.   

Running Hawk was ordered to self-surrender to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at a date to be set later.