⏱ 2 min read
Tigh Bagola, a 42-year-old man from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for firing a gun at other persons. The incident occurred on July 5, 2023, in the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation, when Bagola argued with the victims and then brandished a handgun at them. After firing the gun in their direction, he fled the scene.
Bagola was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025 and pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office due to the Major Crimes Act, which mandates that certain violent crimes in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services – Crow Creek Agency. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and protecting communities from violent crime.
Bagola’s sentence includes 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The outcome of this case demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to holding perpetrators of violent crimes accountable for their actions.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
