Four Todd County Men Sentenced in Assaulting a Federal Officer Case

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced four Todd County, South Dakota men in a case that involved charges of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

Kevin Bordeaux, age 24, of Mission, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on May 15, 2023, to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon; Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer; and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On August 17, 2023, Bordeaux was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Carston Eagle Deer, age 22, of Rosebud, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on August 14, 2023, to two counts of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer; and one count of Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. On November 13, 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crimes Victim Fund.

Gervis Fool Bull, age 29, of Mission, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2023, to Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer and Aiding and Abetting; and Obstructing Justice by Retaliating Against a Witness. On August 14, 2023, Fool Bull was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Julian Moran, a/k/a Jullian Moran, age 29, of Mission, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2023, to Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer and Aiding and Abetting. On December 11, 2023, Moran was sentenced to all time served through December 21, 2023, equal to approximately 18 months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. 

The defendants were further ordered to pay restitution of $8,081.40, jointly and severally, for damage caused to a Tripp County Sheriff’s Office vehicle.

On the evening of July 6, 2022, Bordeaux got into a confrontation with his girlfriend at a residence in Todd County. Bordeaux produced a handgun and fired a single shot, striking his girlfriend in the area of her right hip. Bordeaux then departed the scene in a vehicle with Eagle Deer. A short time later, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services (RSTLES) officers responded to a call for service from a provider at the Rosebud Indian Health Service (IHS) Hospital in Rosebud, who reported a woman had just arrived at the hospital after being shot by Bordeaux. The officers obtained a description of Bordeaux’s vehicle but were not able to locate him that evening.

On the morning of July 8, 2022, RSTLES officers were patrolling in Mission when they observed Bordeaux’s vehicle parked near an apartment building. Moran was standing next to the vehicle, Bordeaux was in the driver seat, Eagle Deer was in the front passenger seat, and Fool Bull was in the rear passenger seat. The officers approached and ordered Moran to show his hands. Moran refused commands and instead got into the rear passenger seat of the vehicle. Bordeaux then started the vehicle and drove away. The RSTLES officers pursued Bordeaux’s vehicle at high speeds from Mission heading east on U.S. Highway 18. The pursuit continued onto a gravel road, at which point Bordeaux and Eagle Deer produced handguns and began firing at the pursuing officers. Bordeaux and Eagle Deer then threw their handguns out the window. As the pursuit approached Winner, South Dakota, the RSTLES officers coordinated with deputies from the Tripp County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) and officers from the Winner Police Department. Moran and Fool Bull threw items from the vehicle during the pursuit for the purpose of obstructing and interfering with the pursuing officers. During the pursuit, Bordeaux rammed a TCSO vehicle. The pursuit ended when a TCSO vehicle made contact with Bordeaux’s vehicle, causing it to spin out of control and into the ditch.  All four defendants were placed under arrest.

On October 17, 2022, Fool Bull was in pretrial detention in the Winner City Jail when he approached another inmate and assaulted that inmate for providing information to law enforcement.

In January of 2023, Eagle Deer was on pretrial release when an arrest warrant was issued for violating the conditions of his release and absconding from supervision. Eagle Deer’s whereabouts were subsequently unknown until May 13, 2023. On the morning of May 13, 2023, a RSTLES officer was patrolling in Mission when he observed Eagle Deer’s vehicle. Eagle Deer attempted to drive away but became stuck. Eagle Deer ignored the officer’s commands to surrender and instead fled his vehicle on foot. The officer caught up to Eagle Deer after a short pursuit, but Eagle Deer physically resisted and attempted to put the officer in a headlock. The officer subsequently escorted Eagle Deer to the ground and placed him under arrest. 

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 FBI, RSTLES, TCSO, and the Winner Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Bordeaux, Eagle Deer, Fool Bull, and Moran were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencings.