Kendall White Tail Sentenced

Kendall Lee White Tail, a 34-year-old man from Mobridge, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for Malicious Destruction of Property. The sentencing, which took place on September 29, 2025, was handed down by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, White Tail pleaded guilty to the charge on August 4, 2025, after being indicted by a North Dakota federal grand jury in March 2025. The case was transferred to South Dakota for plea and sentencing with the consent of the parties.

The charges stem from an incident on January 18, 2024, when White Tail escaped from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Correctional Facility in Fort Yates, North Dakota. During his escape, White Tail caused over $3000 of property damage to the facility. He was later arrested at a residence in Bullhead, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, on January 26, 2024.

In addition to the 20-month prison sentence, White Tail was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $4,450.22 in restitution. He will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandi Russell and Carl Thunem. White Tail was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.

The sentencing of Kendall Lee White Tail serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of malicious destruction of property. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to hold individuals accountable for their actions and protect the community from harm.

The incident highlights the importance of prison security and the need for facilities to be equipped to prevent escapes. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Correctional Facility in Fort Yates, North Dakota, has likely taken steps to address the vulnerabilities that led to White Tail’s escape, and other facilities should take note of the incident to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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