Eight People Indicted for Drug Conspiracy

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that eight individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in South Dakota between 1993 and 2013. The individuals charged include the following:

• Marlena Jo Pond, age 27, Pine Ridge
• Harry John Steele, age 26, Pine Ridge
• Karen Faith Boltz, age 48, Wounded Knee
• Edward Joseph White Dress, Jr., age 45, Wounded Knee
• Brian O. Little Bear, age 26, Pine Ridge
• Tonya Lynn Provost, age 38, Pine Ridge
• James Albert Colhoff, age 43, Pine Ridge
• Gabriel Carl White Plume, age 28, Manderson

All defendants were indicted on March 19, 2013, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marihuana. The defendants listed above appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 28, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The penalty upon conviction is not less than five years of imprisonment and up to 40 years of imprisonment and/or $5,000,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and each individual is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is composed of the following agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Fall River County Sheriff’s Office, and Fall River State’s Attorney’s Office. Homeland Security Investigations also assisted with the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Shattuck is prosecuting the case.

Boltz and White Dress, Jr. were released on bond pending trial. Pond, Steele, Provost, Little Bear, Colhoff, and White Plume were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has not been set.