ALLEN, SD – Nathaniel “Thomas” Waters, 46, of Allen, South Dakota, is facing the consequences for obstructing justice in the death of his nephew. Waters was sentenced May 16, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken of the U.S. District Court, after admitting he deliberately misled law enforcement investigating a fatal fire and homicide.
Waters received time served for the 6 months he’d already spent behind bars. He will also be under supervised release for two years and is ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The indictment stemmed from a federal grand jury investigation launched in January 2018, focusing on Waters’ initial statements concerning the events of October 16, 2017, at his Allen residence.
The case centers around the fire and subsequent death of Waters’ nephew. Investigators quickly identified discrepancies in Waters’ accounts, prompting further scrutiny. Sources close to the investigation suggest Waters attempted to steer authorities away from the true circumstances surrounding the tragedy, initially offering a fabricated narrative. He later confessed to providing false information during multiple interviews.
While the sentencing addresses the false statements, the underlying homicide remains a shadow over the case. Details regarding the nephew’s death have been largely sealed, but the investigation suggests a far more complex situation than Waters initially portrayed. The Grimy Times will continue to pursue information regarding the full scope of this tragedy.
A multi-agency task force brought Waters to justice. The Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives all contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Poppen and Ben Patterson were responsible for the prosecution.
The sentencing of Nathaniel “Thomas” Waters serves as a stark reminder that obstructing a criminal investigation carries serious penalties. Even if the initial crime remains unsolved, lying to federal investigators will be met with federal prosecution. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor the fallout from this case and report on any further developments.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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