Gaylen Paul Sampson, Mailing Threatening Communication, South Dakota 2016

Eagle Butte Man Charged in Federal Court with Mailing Threatening Communication

A federal grand jury in South Dakota indicted Gaylen Paul Sampson, a 41-year-old man from Eagle Butte, for allegedly mailing threatening communications to a victim.

According to the indictment, Sampson is accused of depositing a written communication containing a threat to injure the victim into a U.S. Postal Service mailbox on December 17, 2015, at Hughes County, South Dakota.

Sampson, also known as Thurman Paul Sampson, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 9, 2016, and entered a not guilty plea to the indictment.

The maximum penalty for the charge is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The investigation into the case is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.

Sampson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

The charges against Sampson are merely an accusation, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Defendant Information: Gaylen Paul Sampson, a/k/a Thurman Paul Sampson, 41, Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

Criminal Charges: Mailing Threatening Communication.

City and State: Eagle Butte, South Dakota.

Crime Date: December 17, 2015.

Sentence or Outcome: Remanded to custody pending trial.

Dollar Amounts: $250,000 fine.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/eagle-butte-man-charged-mailing-threatening-communications