November 15, 2022 Jerome Moses Goodhouse, Jr., 31, of McLaughlin was sentenced to life in federal prison on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, 20 years in federal prison for witness tampering, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Goodhouse was indicted for aggravated sexual abuse of a child and witness tampering by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. He was convicted by a jury on all charges on August 24, 2022. In 2017, Goodhouse sexually abused two minor children in McLaughlin. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron J. Cook and Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Goodhouse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
November 15, 2022 Casey Lynn Crow Ghost, 44, McLaughlin, convicted of first degree murder and use of a firearm during a crime of violence that causes death, was sentenced on November 14, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann to life in federal prison on both charges, ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and ordered to forfeit his ownership of a handgun used in the crimes. Crow Ghost was indicted on both charges by a federal grand jury in January of 2021. He was convicted by a jury on all charges on August 11, 2022. The convictions stem from the December 12, 2020, shooting death of Crow Ghost’s romantic partner in McLaughlin. The victim’s body was discovered on December 15, 2020, and an autopsy determined she died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Crow Ghost was interviewed by law enforcement and claimed that the shooting was both an accident and a result of self-defense. Evidence gathered by law enforcement showed Crow Ghost murdered the victim with a handgun and did so with premeditation. This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency, and the Corson County Sheriff ’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Crow Ghost was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
November 16, 2022 Patrick Red Legs, 28, of McLaughlin was indicted by a federal grand jury for failure to register as a sex offender in October of 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on November 16, 2022, and pled not guilty. The indictment alleges that Red Legs failed to properly register his current address with authorities on multiple occasions. Red Legs was previously convicted of a sex offense and is required to register his current address. The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case. Red Legs was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.
November 21, 2022 Joseph Elsey, 34, of Eagle Butte,
convicted of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, was sentenced on November 21, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange to 18 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Elsey was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. He pled guilty on August 11, 2022. On July 11, 2021, CRST Law Enforcement Services officers found a revolver, methamphetamine, and methamphetamine paraphernalia in Elsey’s vehicle in Eagle Butte. Elsey admitted he owned the pistol. Elsey had been convicted of aggravated assault in 2016, and this conviction made it illegal for him to possess firearms. Elsey was also prohibited from possessing firearms because he was a habitual user of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by CRST Law Enforcement Services, the Dewey County Sheriff ’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Elsey was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
December 8, 2022 Galen Cleveland Iron Cloud, 31, of Rapid City, convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, was sentenced on December 5 by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann to eight years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, forfeiture of $4,354 in U.S. currency, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Iron Cloud was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2021. He pled guilty on May 17, 2022. Between 2018 and 2021, Iron Cloud conspired with others to distribute between 50 and 200 grams of methamphetamine in South Dakota. He was primarily involved with distributing methamphetamine within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. This case was investigated by the FBI, Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, Mobridge Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency, Corson County Sheriff ’s Office, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, Oglala Sioux Tribal Police Department, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.
December 13, 2022 Samantha Lee Uses Arrow, 29, Little Eagle, was sentenced on December 12 by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Uses Arrow was indicted by a federal grand jury in October of 2021 for distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. She pled guilty on September 26, 2022. In January 2021, in Little Eagle, Uses Arrow injected methamphetamine into another person, who died from methamphetamine toxicity. This case was investigated by Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency and Division of Drug Enforcement, the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Mobridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Uses Arrow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.