Local News

Former tribal council member in treatment, sentencing moved to spring

By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal staff | Friday, October 03, 2008

It will be at least next spring before former Oglala Sioux Tribe Council member Don Garnier is sentenced on a federal drug charge.

Garnier, 40, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana after he and a co-defendant, Anthony Vocu, 43, were arrested near Raton, N.M., on Sept. 19, 2007. Law enforcement officers found 21 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the car Vocu was driving.

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Both men are from Pine Ridge. Garnier was a tribal council member at the time but later resigned.

Vocu pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and was given three years of probation. Garnier was scheduled for sentencing in Albuquerque, N.M., in August. Sentencing was then rescheduled to Oct. 1. Court documents show that U.S. District Judge John Conway has now postponed sentencing for eight months while Garnier is in outpatient treatment.

The maximum penalty for the possession charge is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Vocu originally was indicted on an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Garnier originally was indicted on an additional charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com

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