JANUARY 2024:
A federal judge has sentenced a Rapid City man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Vine Phillip Hayes, age 49, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hayes was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 9, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from Hayes’ role in the beating death of a man near Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in November of 2021. In the early morning hours of November 28, 2021, Hayes and co-defendants Lance Red Cloud and Michael Red Cloud drove the victim, an adult male, to a remote area outside of Pine Ridge. The defendants pulled the victim out of their vehicle and beat him. They then drove back to Pine Ridge, leaving the victim lying on the ground with severe injuries. The victim subsequently died from his injuries.
Lance Red Cloud pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder, based on his role in the attack, and was sentenced on August 11, 2023, to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Michael Red Cloud pleaded guilty to Accessory to Second Degree Murder, based on his role in the attack, and was sentenced on December 11, 2023, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
AUGUST 2023:
U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced (Aug. 11, 2023) a Pine Ridge man convicted of Second-Degree Murder – Aiding and Abetting.
Lance Wahokiza Red Cloud, 28, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The charge related to Red Cloud and two other individuals beating Robert Lynn Jumping Eagle to death in November of 2021 in Pine Ridge.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Red Cloud was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
OCTOBER 2022:
Three men from Pine Ridge have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder – Aiding and Abetting.
Lance Wahokiza Red Cloud, age 27, Vine Phillipe Hayes, age 47, and Michael Red Cloud, age 30, each pleaded not guilty.
The charges relate to Lance Red Cloud, Vine Hayes, and Michael Red Cloud beating a man to death in November of 2021, at Pine Ridge.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division.
Lance Red Cloud, Vine Hayes, and Michael Red Cloud were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
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