Related Federal Cases
Feds Crack Down on Violent Crime in Indian Country
The Justice Department has intensified its efforts to combat violent crime and missing persons cases in Native American communities, particularly in Wyoming.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced stepped-up efforts to tackle violent crime and other pressing public safety challenges, such as the fentanyl crisis, which have ravaged Native American communities.
"There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations," Garland said. "We seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to maintaining and improving public safety on the Wind River Indian Reservation by assisting in investigations and prosecuting crimes committed there, including crimes involving missing and murdered Indigenous persons.
The office has maintained a branch office in Lander, Wyoming, since 1995, with a staff of three experienced federal prosecutors and a paralegal focused on prosecuting violent crimes and drug trafficking crimes committed on the Reservation.
"We work closely with our federal, Tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners in and around the Reservation," said U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo. "We could not be effective without these partnerships."
The FBI maintains an office in Lander to investigate crimes committed on the Reservation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs operates the Wind River Police Department and employs special agents on the Reservation.
The Justice Department has prioritized missing or murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP) cases, with a regional program that places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five regions across the United States to aid in prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people.
"We seek to end this crisis by doubling down on our efforts and being true partners with Tribal communities," Garland said. "Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice."
Key Facts
- State: Wyoming
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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