Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to 14 years in Federal Prison

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Second-Degree Murder – Aiding and Abetting. The sentencing took place on August 11, 2023.

Lance Wahokiza Red Cloud, 28, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Red Cloud was indicted for Second Degree Murder – Aiding and Abetting by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on May 26, 2023.

The charge related to Red Cloud and two other individuals beating Robert Lynn Jumping Eagle to death in November of 2021 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

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 and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.

Red Cloud was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.