The FBI isn’t involved in this case, but a federal grand jury has indicted two men on larceny charges for stealing a cow and calf from another man in Manderson, South Dakota. Richard Daniel Ecoffey, a/k/a George Ecoffey, age 50, and Eugene Hunts Horses, Jr., age 43, of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, were indicted on February 19, 2014.
The charges relate to Ecoffey and Hunts Horses stealing a cow and calf from another man on February 9, 2013, near Manderson. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.
Ecoffey and Hunts Horses were released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for May 6, 2014. The charges are merely accusations and Ecoffey and Hunts Horses are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The case highlights the ongoing struggle with cattle theft in rural areas of South Dakota. In recent years, law enforcement has cracked down on the practice, which can result in significant financial losses for ranchers and farmers.
The indictment marks the latest development in the case, which was initially investigated by local authorities. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety joined the investigation, leading to the federal indictment.
Ecoffey and Hunts Horses will face a federal judge in May to answer to the charges. If convicted, they could face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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- William George Knight, Capitol Assault, South Dakota 2021 · District of Columbia
- Robert Wolfe Jr., Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, South Dakota 2026 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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