Jury convicts Pine Ridge Woman of Drug Conspiracy
October 11, 2006
Rapid City, South Dakota
United States Attorney Marty J. Jackley announced today that on October 4, 2006, Marvella Richards of Pine Ridge was found guilty in federal court. Richards was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2006 for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, and Possession of Firearm in Relation to Drug Trafficking following an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, SD UNET, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police. The mandatory maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, or both; and lifetime supervised release. The charges stem from an incident involving the illegal sale of drugs on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. On October 4, 2006, Marvella Richards was convicted by a jury to the charges following a two and a half week trial. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mara M. Kohn. |