A federal judge has sentenced a Denver man to nearly 13 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine in the Rapid City area.

Harlan Garcia, 41, was convicted after a jury trial in February of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and with distribution of a controlled substance. Now, U.S. District Judge Richard Battey has sentenced Garcia to 135 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

The charges involved distributing drugs between 2004 and 2005, according to federal court documents.

Garcia's co-defendant, Michelle Lucero, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 63 months in prison.

In other federal court news:

* Moises Manuel Ramirez, 22, Rosebud, was sentenced by Battey to 33 months in prison, which is to run concurrently with a separate state sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Ramirez was indicted for possessing, receiving or concealing a stolen firearm in connection with an incident that happened March 9, 2007, in Todd County. He pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm. A co-defendant, Paul Roubideaux, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and is currently serving a 72-month sentence. No further information was available about Ramirez's state sentence.

* Eva Fool Bull, 48, Parmelee, was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to simple assault and assault by striking, beating or wounding. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, she admitted to assaulting a man in Todd County by "verbally threatening to cause physical harm and by using a tire iron to strike, beat and/or wound him." According to federal court documents, the victim suffered serious bodily injuries, namely a "depressed skull fracture" and deep cuts to his head.

* Jeff Jerred, no age listed, of Rapid City pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, admitting that he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Rapid City area. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum sentence is 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine. He was released on bond pending sentencing July 29.

* William Edward Marshall Jr., 30, Porcupine, pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated sexual abuse. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Marshall was indicted for attempting a sexual act with a person younger than 12. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison, with a maximum of life in prison, upon conviction. No trial date was set.

* A California couple has pleaded not guilty to charges that they manufactured counterfeit bills, then passed them to local merchants in March. Sean Woodward, 40, and Resa Woodward, 46, both of Sunland, Calif., have pleaded not guilty to a four-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to defraud and three counts of counterfeiting. According to federal court documents, they are accused of passing counterfeit bills at Checker Auto Parts and Taco John's in Rapid City on March 24. The conspiracy charge is punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. Each counterfeiting charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. No trial date was set.

* Anthony Bobtail Bear Jr., 28, Little Eagle, pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in bodily injury. Federal court documents show he is accused of using a bat to assault a man in Corson County on July 17, 2007. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. No trial date was set.

* Manfred Fast Horse Jr., 46, Rosebud, pleaded not guilty to a seven-count indictment charging him with Lacey Act violations. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Fast Horse was a guide for "All About the Hunt," an outfitting business near Witten, in which he and others were involved in a scheme to violate state, tribal and federal wildlife regulations by taking elk and deer without proper licenses and transferring big game licenses. Kyle Moeller, owner of the outfitting business, has already pleaded guilty to two charges and sentenced to three months of probation and $31,600 restitution and an $18,000 fine. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction.

Editor's note: The U.S. District Court generally prosecutes felonies committed on reservations, while tribal courts handle misdemeanor crimes. Felonies that happen off the reservation are prosecuted in state/circuit court and are reported separately in the Journal. Some drug and firearms cases are also prosecuted in federal court.