Chamberlain Woman Indicted on Witness Tampering Charges

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Chamberlain, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Tampering With a Witness and Conspiracy to Tamper With a Witness.

Dale Lynn James, age 33, was indicted on July 16, 2020.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 31, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count.  Restitution may also be ordered. 

The Indictment alleges that on or about March 3, 2019, James did knowingly and intentionally, combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with persons known and unknown, and did intimidate, threaten, and corruptly persuade twenty-eight potential witnesses with intent to influence, delay, and prevent the testimony of said witnesses in an official criminal proceeding.

The charges are merely accusation and James is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.   

James was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.