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Press Release

Oglala Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Manslaughter and Firearm Charge

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter and Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence was sentenced on July 27, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

On the charge of Voluntary Manslaughter, Dirk Garnier, age 37, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  As to the charge of Discharge of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Garnier was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  The prison sentences are to be served consecutively and the time of supervised release is to be served concurrently.

Garnier was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2021.  He pleaded guilty on February 18, 2022.  The conviction stems from Garnier killing another male with a 20-guage Mossberg shotgun on July 16, 2021, at Oglala.

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.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

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

Updated August 9, 2022

Topics
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Violent Crime
Indian Country Law and Justice
Firearms Offenses