Three Belle Fourche men are facing federal drug charges in connection with an alleged conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Spearfish.

Carl Holm, 27, David Nelson, 31, and James Ray Droppers, 29, all pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court to charges connected with a conspiracy prosecutors say began last summer and continued through November.

Federal court documents show Holm was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Nelson was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Droppers was indicted for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison upon conviction. Distribution and possession are both punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon convictions. Fines in the millions of dollars are also possible.

No trial date was set.

In other federal court news:

• Tyrall Cadotte, 23, Wakpala, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to 51 months in prison and three years supervised release for assaulting a Wakpala man with a motor vehicle. Cadotte was originally indicted on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and later pleaded guilty to the latter charge. The incident happened July 17, 2007, at Wakpala.
• Two Mobridge women have been sentenced to prison time and restitution for assaulting a Wakpala woman. Judge Kornmann sentenced Brittany Thompson, 32, and Camille Touche, 32, to 37 months in custody and three years supervised release and ordered them to pay $200 restitution to the victim. Both women were originally indicted on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and later pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and aiding and abetting the assault.
• Kaylynn Running Hawk, 20, McLaughlin, pleaded guilty to larceny. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, she admitted stealing a vehicle belonging to the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma on Aug. 13, 2008. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Running Hawk was released on bond pending sentencing March 27.
• Erik Todd LaRoche, 23, Lower Brule, pleaded guilty to escape. Federal court documents show that LaRoche was charged after he failed to return to the Winner County Jail while free on work release Oct. 19, 2008. He was in custody for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. The maximum penalty for escape is five years in prison
• and a $250,000 fine. LaRoche is in custody pending sentencing April 3.
• Shirley Ghost Dog, 45, Kyle, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to federal court documents she is accused of stabbing a man in the chest on July 21 at Kyle. The maximum penalty upon conviction 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.