RAPID CITY, SD – Jeremiah Little, a 40-year-old resident of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars after receiving an eight-year and four-month federal sentence for his role in a methamphetamine distribution ring. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the punishment Wednesday, October 25, 2023, effectively removing a key player in the flow of narcotics through the Oglala Sioux Tribe lands.
Little was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – specifically, methamphetamine. He ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge on August 11, 2023, avoiding a potentially longer sentence at trial. According to court documents, Little was a significant distributor of the drug throughout Kyle and Pine Ridge during the spring and summer of 2021.
The bust wasn’t a single incident. Law enforcement first encountered Little in May 2022 when he fled from officers. A search of his vehicle yielded two firearms and a collection of drug paraphernalia. This initial evasion attempt failed to deter Little, who again attempted to flee from law enforcement in August 2022, leading to the seizure of more drug-related items. Investigators determined Little was responsible for moving approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine during the course of the conspiracy.
Beyond the prison term, Little will be subject to three years of supervised release upon his eventual freedom. He’s also been ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Significantly, Judge Schreier ordered the forfeiture of the two firearms seized during the initial vehicle search, preventing them from potentially resurfacing in further criminal activity. The firearms are now in federal custody.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich led the prosecution, successfully securing the conviction and substantial sentence. The ATF confirmed the details of the sentencing and forfeiture.
Little was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing hearing. His case serves as a stark reminder that federal agencies are actively targeting drug trafficking operations, even in remote areas like the Pine Ridge Reservation, and are prepared to pursue significant penalties for those involved. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on further developments.
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- Pine Ridge Man Gets 19 Years for Meth Conspiracy, Firearms Charge · Nebraska
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- Chelsey Little, Meth Conspiracy, South Dakota 2023 · Colorado
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