RAPID CITY – In a shocking display of justice, Ivan White Plume, a/k/a Ivan White Butterfly, 33, of Manderson, South Dakota, has been sentenced for his role in concealing a heinous crime.
U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan A. Kobes, sitting in district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, handed down the sentence on May 14, 2024. White Butterfly was given time served, one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Butterfly served a total of one year and 11 months in custody, a harsh reality for the defendant who chose to conceal his knowledge of a brutal murder. According to court documents, in February 2022, White Butterfly was questioned by tribal law enforcement officers about the disappearance of a 17-year-old female.
Despite knowing that his relative, Tyson White Plume, had confessed to shooting and killing the victim, White Butterfly chose to conceal his knowledge of the minor’s death and the shooter’s confession. This egregious act of obstruction will have consequences for the defendant.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case, ensuring that justice was served.
White Butterfly’s actions show a blatant disregard for the law and the victim’s family. The sentence handed down by Judge Kobes is a fitting punishment for the defendant’s crimes.
The case serves as a reminder that concealing a crime will not be tolerated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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