Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer and two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Frances Sioux Montero, age 40, was indicted on August 10, 2021. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 17, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, three years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on May 12, 2021, and June 1, 2021, Montero knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine in Eagle Butte with intent to distribute the drug. Further, on June 1, Montero resisted a lawful arrest and caused the arresting officer to cut his finger when they fell to the ground and a methamphetamine pipe Montero had been holding shattered.
The charges are merely accusations and Montero is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Montero was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
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