United States Attorney Marty J. Jackley announced today
that on November 8, 2006, Dale Richard pleaded guilty in federal court
to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine. Richard, of Pine Ridge, appeared
before U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier and pleaded guilty
to the original indictment which was returned following an investigation
conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs. The penalty upon conviction is ten years mandatory minimum imprisonment
up to life and/or a $4,000,000 fine. Jackley said the charges relate
to incidents between 2004 and continuing through 2005 wherein Richard
and others conspired to distribute cocaine. The case was prosecuted by
Assistant United States Attorney Mara M. Kohn. A presentence investigation
was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for January 29, 2007.
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