Pine Ridge Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Acting U.S. Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that Robert Pond, age 25, of Pine Ridge, appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on October 7, 2009, and pled guilty to Count I of an indictment that charged him with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years to 40 years' imprisonment and a $2,000,000 fine. Pond pled guilty to conspiring with others to distribute cocaine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Pond acknowledged that he assisted in distributing more than two kilograms but less than 3.5 kilograms of cocaine. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mara M. Kohn. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for January 11, 2010. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.

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