Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced for Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman convicted of Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises was sentenced on January 14, 2020, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.

Andrea Circle Bear, a/k/a Andrea High Bear, age 29, was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Circle Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2019.  She pled guilty on October 7, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from several incidents in April of 2018, when Circle Bear unlawfully and knowingly used and maintained a place for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation.

“It is federal crime to knowingly allow a drug dealer to operate out of your home, apartment, or place of business,” said U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons.  “Don’t let yourself or your property get mixed up in the world of illegal drugs.  It ends badly.”

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.

Circle Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.