Colorado Man Indicted for Murder of Annie Colhoff

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Colorado man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder, Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person.

Orlando Guadalupe Jose Ephron Villanueva de Macias, a/k/a "Chris," age 36, was indicted on November 16, 2016.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollman on December 9, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100.00 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

On September 29, 2016, Villanueva de Macias shot and killed Chunta Suta Wi Colhoff, a/k/a Annie Colhoff, with a firearm in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.  Also on September 29, 2016, Villanueva De Macias illegally possessed ammunition.

The charges are merely an accusation and Villanueva de Macias is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department.  Assisting from the District of Colorado were the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, Aurora Police Department, and the Lakewood Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys’ Kathryn N. Rich and Sarah B. Collins are prosecuting the case.

Villanueva de Macias is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.  A trial date has been set for February 14, 2017.