RAPID CITY – A Rapid City woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for obstructing justice by retaliating against a witness, according to a recent announcement from United States Attorney Ron Parsons.
Vanessa Highpipe, 31, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on January 30, 2026.
Highpipe was indicted for Obstructing Justice by Retaliation Against a Witness by a federal grand jury in May 2025. She pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025.
The case involved an assault on a witness in April 2025 in Rapid City. Highpipe used a closed fist to cause minor injuries to the victim. The victim had previously testified in a federal jury trial where Highpipe’s romantic partner was convicted of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death in March 2025. Following the assault, Highpipe made statements to others admitting that she assaulted the victim because of the trial testimony.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), which comprises law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Highpipe was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Related Federal Cases
- Franky Torres, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
- Todd Brave Crow, Witness Tampering, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Nathaniel Thomas Waters, Obstruction of Justice, South Dakota 2019 · South Dakota
- South Dakota Tribal Leaders Unite Against MMIP Crisis · South Dakota
- 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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