Pine Ridge Man Guilty of Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 19, 2009 |
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Patrick Long, age 44, of Pine Ridge, appeared before Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier on November 19, 2009, and pled guilty to Count I of an Indictment that charged him with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The penalty upon conviction is a minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment and/or a $4,000,000 fine. Between 1999 and 2008, Long conspired with others to distribute cocaine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, BIA, ATF and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Mark A. Vargo. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for March 1, 2010. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.