Emmett Delaine Traversie, 21, of Promise, South Dakota, is facing federal charges for distributing methamphetamine across tribal communities in July 2016. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on October 12, 2016, accusing Traversie of two separate drug deals on July 9 and another on July 12 in Lantry, Dupree, and Eagle Butte — all within the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s jurisdiction.
Traversie appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 26, 2016, where he formally entered a plea of not guilty. The charges stem from allegations that he knowingly and intentionally distributed methamphetamine on each of those dates, violating federal controlled substances laws. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan.
If convicted, Traversie could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $1,000,000. Additional penalties include up to 3 years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and potential court-ordered restitution. These are not convictions — Traversie remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation was led by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, highlighting the ongoing struggle with drug trafficking in tribal regions of South Dakota. Authorities have increasingly relied on federal partnerships to combat the flow of methamphetamine, which has devastated rural and Indigenous communities across the northern plains.
Traversie was released on a personal recognizance bond and is awaiting trial, currently scheduled for December 13, 2016. The move reflects the court’s assessment of flight risk and danger to the community, though prosecutors could seek stricter conditions as the trial date nears.
The case underscores the federal government’s continued push to enforce drug laws in Indian Country, where jurisdictional complexities often hinder local investigations. With methamphetamine still flooding reservation towns, law enforcement calls it a silent epidemic — one that cases like Traversie’s aim to disrupt, one indictment at a time.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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