Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Anthony Red Elk, age 34, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and two counts of Sexual Abuse following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 21, 2023.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years up to a maximum of life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine on each count, a minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count.

Red Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2021. 

The conviction stems from Red Elk engaging in a sexual act between 2008 and 2010, with a female minor who had not attained the age of 12 years, in Wanblee, on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Red Elk then sexually abused the same female in 2018 and 2019 in Wanblee.

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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for September 25, 2023. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.