TRIBAL JUSTICE NEWS
November 21 - November 23, 2011

DRUG AND FIREARMS ENFORCEMENT

Woman Indicted For Theft Of Prescription Drugs (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan)

U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced on Nov. 21, 2011, that Jamie Helen Gibisas, 33, of Mount Pleasant, was indicted on Oct.26, 2011, by a federal grand jury in Bay City, Mich. for theft of personal property over $1,000, day. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge, Andrew G. Arena, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The indictment charges that on Aug. 10, 2011, Gibisas stole over $1,000 worth of prescription drugs on the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Reservation in Isabella County, Mich. During the incident, it is alleged that Gibisas altered the label on the medication making it appear that the cost was covered by insurance when it actually was not. If convicted as charged, Gibisas faces up to 5 years in prison. The case was investigated by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police and special agents of the FBI.

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PUBLIC CORRUPTION

Former Secretary-Treasurer Of Ponca Tribe Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement From Tribe (U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma)

U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats announced that Cheryl L. Roughface, 50, of Ponca City, Okla. , pleaded guilty to embezzlement from the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. According to court records, Roughface was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Ponca Tribe who on Oct. 25, 2007, wrote a check to herself from the tribal account in the amount of $2,500 for which there was no authorization or legitimate expense of the Tribe. At sentencing, Roughface could be sentenced up to five years in federal prison, be fined up to $250,000 and pay mandatory restitution to the Tribe. The United States asserts that restitution to the Tribe should be $22,715.

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VIOLENT CRIME PROSECUTION

Lake Andes Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Lake Andes, S.D. man convicted of three separate rapes by a federal trial jury was sentenced on Nov. 21, 2011. Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced James Bruguier, a/k/a James Bruguier, Jr. ,  to 30 years in prison without parole after being convicted of several felonies during the August 2011 trial. Bruguier, 25,  was found guilty by a jury of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, and first-degree burglary for separate sexual assaults on an adult and two teenagers from the Yankton reservation. The testimony at trial revealed that two of the sexual attacks perpetrated by Bruguier occurred in the homes of the victims. Bruguier was originally indicted in Feb. 2011 by a federal grand jury and then re-indicted as more victims were discovered. The trial testimony revealed separate acts of sexual abuse on separate victims in 2004-2005, 2010 and 2011. Bruguier, who has been held without bail since his federal arrest, was immediately returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Sawmill Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

Acting U.S. Attorney Ann Birmingham Scheel announced that Joseph Aaron Duncan, 27, of Sawmill, Ariz. , pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder, in federal district court in Phoenix on Nov. 21, 2011. Duncan had been charged with Second Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. After midnight on Apr. 8, 2011, Duncan was at his residence with the victim, who was a friend of Duncan's. Duncan was in possession of a .40 caliber pistol at the time and was intoxicated when he shot the victim one time in the chest. Duncan claimed there was a struggle and the gun went off. During the early morning hours of April 8, 2011, Duncan buried the victim and the victim was not discovered until several days after the shooting. A conviction for Second Degree Murder carries a maximum penalty of life, a $250,000.00 fine or both.

Blackfeet Man Pleads Guilty In U.S. Federal Court (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)

U.S. Attorney Mike Cotter announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on Nov. 22, 2011, Kevin Alfred Gobert, 26, of Browning, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact and production of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of a child. He is currently detained. Gobert is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe. He faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least 5 years up to lifetime supervised release. Sentencing has been set for Mar. 19, 2012.

Informational: Federal Court Arraignments (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on Nov. 22, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge R. Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:

Vernon Marshall James Young, a 24-year-old resident of Rocky Boy Reservation, appeared on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, Young faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Austin Joseph Denny, a 23-year-old resident of Rocky Boy Reservation, appeared on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, Denny faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Leonard Dean Follette, a 50-year-old resident of Culbertson, appeared on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, Follette faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.

Robert Blackdog, a 55-year-old resident of Brockton, appeared on charges of abusive sexual contact. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, Blackdog faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least 5 years up to lifetime supervised release.

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges. The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Kyle Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Kyle man charged with Sexual Abuse was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2011, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken. Donald Bear Runner, Jr. , 26, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, five years of supervised release, a $100 victim assessment and $2091 in restitution. Bear Runner was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 15, 2011. In Aug. 2010, near Kyle, he engaged in a sexual act with a female who was unable to give consent. Bear Runner pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2011.