A Colorado man who prosecutors say was a major supplier of cocaine and marijuana to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation will spend nine years in federal prison.
Carlos Torres-Ortiz, 34, Aurora, Colo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to 110 months in prison and four years supervised release. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to federal court documents, Torres-Ortiz admitted to transporting more than 500 grams of cocaine from Denver to Pine Ridge and other places between July 2006 and June 2007. The cocaine was then "wholesaled" to other dealers, who generally sold it in half-gram increments.
In other federal court news:
- Benjamin Joseph Loafer, 48, Wanblee, was sentenced by Judge Schreier to the maximum of six years in prison and 10 years supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual contact with a person unable to refuse such contact. According to federal court documents, he admitted to having sexual contact twice with a woman who was asleep and unable to give consent. One incident happened in November 2004 and the other in September 2007. Each count was punishable by three years in prison. The terms will be served consecutively.
- Dennis C. Monroy, 49, Cody, Wyo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to five years probation and ordered to pay child support of restitution of $60,429.87. He pleaded guilty to failure to pay legal child support as far back as November 1997.
- Chane Coomes, 44, Manderson, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Coomes admitted to possessing methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute in South Dakota between the fall of 2005 and December 2006. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison with a maximum of life in prison and a $2 million fine. Coomes is in custody pending sentencing Oct. 7.
- William LaClaire, 23, Takini, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the charge involved the assault of a Cheyenne River Sioux tribal officer in Takini. Prosecutors say LaClaire pointed a .243-caliber hunting rifle at the officer, who was investigating reports of an alleged altercation. LaClaire then fled Takini and led tribal and state officers on a lengthy high-speed chase into Meade County before he was stopped, according to the news release. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. LaClaire is in custody pending sentencing Oct. 24.
- Alison Wind, 20, Fort Thompson, and Talia Eberhard, 25, Green Grass, both pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting voluntary manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 29, 2007, stabbing death of Lloyd D. Jensen, Jr., in Green Grass. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both women were detained pending sentencing Oct. 24.
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.
