If not for a hotel patron with a good nose, more than two dozen people now sitting in federal prison could still be involved with distributing cocaine on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Two years ago a Rapid City Police officer responded to a call from a Ramada Inn guest who could smell marijuana in the hallway. That call, made on Dec. 21, 2005, led to the arrest of five people after officers found one and one-half pounds of cocaine and 16 firearms in the motel room and related vehicles.

The resulting federal drug case eventually put 28 people - including the drug ring's leader, Geraldine Blue Bird, behind bars.

The hotel arrests, along with the shooting death of a teen-ager at Blue Bird's house in Pine Ridge just weeks before, broke open an investigation of illegal drugs and firearms that was already underway.

"We already had the case initiated but it was those two things that really helped us as far as that investigation," said Bob Perry, supervisory senior resident agent for the FBI.

In the end, 23 codefendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and/or related charges. Blue Bird, Colin Spotted Elk, Flint Thomas Red Feather, Marvella Richards and Rusty Richards were convicted following a trial in the fall of 2006.

On Dec. 18, U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier sentenced the last defendant in the case, Maritza Perez, 25, Denver, Colo., to 135 months in prison and five years supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Prosecutors say Perez was the main source of cocaine sold by Blue Bird's operation. Perez supplied drugs to Jean "Chickie" Merrival and Reyes Martinez, who then sold them to Blue Bird and others for distribution at Pine Ridge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mara Kohn had no idea the case would become so big when she took it on.

"The hope is that when you do a case of this magnitude it will have a positive impact on the community," she said. That could mean reducing the illegal drug supply on the reservation, deterring people from trying narcotics, or convincing anyone using drugs to stop.

It will be difficult, if not impossible, to tell what effect the case has had. But people have thanked Kohn for prosecuting the case and for dismantling Blue Bird's cocaine operation.

Some told her the case helped them recognize their own drug problems or get help for other drug users.

Kohn praised tribal, state and federal law enforcement for their investigative work.

"It was a wonderful example of how, when all levels of law enforcement pulls together, it works," she said.

Perry described the case as an example of continuing efforts to fight illicit drug trafficking in Indian Country.

"We certainly hope it will make a difference, at least for that community," he said.

Blue Bird was sentenced to 410 months in prison. Spotted Elk was sentenced to 292 months in prison for drugs, plus 60 months in prison for a related firearms charge. Marvella Richards was sentenced to 235 months, Rusty Richards to 220 months, and Red Feather to 200 months.

All five are appealing their sentences to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Spotted Elk is also appealing his conviction.

Federal officials could not comment on the case of a 13-year-old boy who testified at trial because he is a juvenile. The boy, identified as C.C., told of packaging drugs for Blue Bird and of accidentally shooting his friend Apollo White Calf, 16, at Blue Bird's home on Dec. 10, 2005.

When C.C. testified at sentencing, he was serving a one-year sentence at the Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center for involuntary manslaughter.

Others charged in the case, and their sentences, follow. All are from Pine Ridge except for Merrival and Martinez.

Jody Richard, 70 months; Norton Richards, 120 months; Wenona Richards, 135 months; Dawnee Frogg, 168 months; Travis Elk Boy, 188 months; Sage Richards, 135 months; Justin Hawk Wing, 175 months; Clarence Behan, 168 months; Howard Blue Bird, 121 months; Thomas Spotted Bear, 180 months; Joe Garcia, 70 months; Jay Dee Spotted Elk, 121 months; Janine Cottier, 120 months; Dale Richard, 120 months; Jean "Chickie" Merrival, 168 months; Lyle Blue Legs, 151 months; Tanya Elk Boy, 120 months; Bobbie Spotted Elk, 70 months; George Richard, 120 months; Reyes Martinez, 127 months; Greg Cournoyer, 120 months; and Seth Hernandez, 15 months.

Blue Bird became known nationwide in 1999 when she was photographed with then-President Bill Clinton during his "poverty tour" of the reservation. Bluebird, who was living in a small home with 28 people, later received a double-wide mobile home from a Washington couple who read about her plight, according to a story in the Washington Post.

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