Pine Ridge Man Found Guilty at Jury Trial

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted JT Myore, age 36, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, of Robbery, Carjacking, and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on September 27, 2023.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum of seven years in custody up to life, and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count.

Myore was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2021. He was charged in connection with two separate incidents, and the first one occurred in August of 2019 and the second in May of 2021.

In August of 2019, Myore and a co-defendant brandished firearms in order to carjack a Ford Freestyle from another male in Pine Ridge. In May of 2021, Myore and his co-defendants forcibly assaulted a male in Pine Ridge in order to steal his Toyota Celica. The male sustained a broken arm and cuts and contusions to his head and face.

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, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.