A Denver man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for selling cocaine and marijuana on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Stephen St. James, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to five years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $200 fine for conspiring to distribute cocaine. He originally was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of a communication facility and later pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.

According to federal court documents, St. James supplied cocaine to a regular group of customers at Pine Ridge between 2001 and 2004 and also sold pounds of marijuana to some of the same people. St. James admitted to selling more than 500 grams of cocaine on the reservation between 2001 and 2004.

In other federal court news:

- Rolland Collins Jr., 26, Eagle Butte, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to 18 months in prison and three years supervised release. Collins pleaded guilty to being a drug user in possession of a firearm, a charge that stemmed from an incident on Jan. 23, 2008, when Collins possessed a .22 caliber pistol and a 7.62 mm rifle. He originally was indicted on an additional charge of distribution of a controlled substance. He is to begin serving his sentence Sept. 23.

- Lisa Attack Him, 44, Rapid City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew Bogue to five years probation and ordered to pay $2,160 in restitution to a woman she assaulted on Sept. 26, 2007. Attack Him pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, she kicked and hit the victim with a stick and beer can, causing severe lacerations to her face, wrists and back. Attack Him also used a pocket knife to cut the victim's hair during the altercation.

- David D. Larvie Jr., 26, Mission, pleaded guilty to a charge of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The charge relates to an Aug. 7, 2007, incident when Larvie broke into a Mission woman's home while armed with a firearm. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison with a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Larvie is in custody pending sentencing Dec. 1.

- Jordy Riley, 22, Okreek, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact. Federal court documents show he admits helping a co-defendant, David Larvie, following a burglary in August 2007 in Todd County. The maximum penalty is 12-1/2 years in prison and a $125,000 fine. Riley is in custody pending sentencing Dec. 1.

- Stephanie Vedilago, 37, Rapid City, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft or embezzlement in connection with health care. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Vedilago admitted taking large amounts of Vicodin and Tramadol narcotics from the Sioux San Hospital Pharmacy while she worked at the facility. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Vedilago was released pending sentencing Nov. 25.

- Dave Mackey, 43, of Nebraska, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm while being a user of an illegal substance. The charge involves an incident near Rapid City on Aug. 8, 2007, that involved a .45 caliber/410-gauge double barrel Derringer, according to federal court documents. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mackey was released pending trial.

- James F. Stead, 43, Rapid City, pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, he is accused of assaulting a Todd County man on April 13. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. No trial date was set.

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.