Pine Ridge Guilty of Distributing Cocaine Near Pine Ridge

United States Attorney Marty J. Jackley announced today that on November 1, 2007, Dale Ecoffey pled guilty in federal court to distribution of a controlled substance. Ecoffey, 43, of Pine Ridge, appeared before U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier and pled guilty to count IV of the original indictment which was returned following an investigation conducted by ATF, BIA and the FBI. The maximum penalty upon conviction is twenty years imprisonment and/or a $1,000,000 fine. Jackley said the charge relates to an incident occurring in December 2002 near Pine Ridge when Ecoffey distributed cocaine. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Vargo. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set.