Wyoming Men Plead Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Aiding and Abetting

U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Christopher A. Crofts announced today that on October 29, 2013, Alan Brown, 61, and his brother Vernon Lee Brown, 54, both Northern Arapaho Tribal Members, pled guilty in federal court to an information charging them with one count of involuntary manslaughter and aiding and abetting (Alan Brown) and involuntary manslaughter (Vernon Brown), in violation of 18 U.S.C. '' 1112, 1153, and 2.

The charges against Alan and Vernon Lee Brown stem from an incident that occurred on or about May 6, 2006, which resulted in the death of Tad Paul Barnson, 47, who was originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, but resided in and around Riverton, Wyoming, at the time of his death. Alan and Vernon Lee Brown are Wind River Indian Reservation inhabitants but are not believed to have any permanent residence. This crime is alleged to have occurred on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Alan and Vernon Lee Brown are each facing a maximum sentence of eight years’ imprisonment and could be ordered to pay restitution, a fine, and special assessment.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.