Leslie ‘Luke’ Pond, Cocaine Trafficking, South Dakota 2013

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: A federal grand jury in South Dakota has indicted ten individuals on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including cocaine and marijuana, in Pine Ridge.

The indictment, handed down on February 20, 2013, names Leslie ‘Luke’ Pond, 52, of Wounded Knee, as a key figure in the massive cocaine and marijuana ring.

The other defendants include Marvin Boltz, 49, of Manderson; Robert Dale Martin, 46, of Manderson; Tricia Lee Pond, 41, of Pine Ridge; Greg Lynn Pond, 44, of Pine Ridge; Charles Lee Richards, 42, of Pine Ridge; Kelcey L. Twiss, 24, of Pine Ridge; Brandon Charles Schreiner, 26, of Pine Ridge; Sam Bear Robe, 37, of Pine Ridge; and Ronald Two Bulls, 65, of Pine Ridge.

According to the indictment, the conspiracy, which lasted from 1993 to 2013, resulted in the distribution of cocaine and marijuana in South Dakota.

All defendants, except Marvin Boltz, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on February 25, 2013, and pleaded not guilty to the indictment. Boltz appeared before Judge Duffy on February 28, 2013, and also pleaded not guilty.

The penalty for conviction is not less than 5 years of imprisonment and up to 40 years of imprisonment and/or a $5,000,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and each individual is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Fall River County Sheriff’s Office, and Fall River State’s Attorney’s Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Shattuck is prosecuting the case. A trial date has been set for April 30, 2013.

Related Federal Cases