A Rapid City man who sold at least 2,200 pounds of marijuana to Rapid City residents will spend at least 10 years in federal prison for his crime, and the Denver woman who sold him the drugs will spend at least five years in prison.

Ryan Lyn Skiff, 23, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Sonja N. Clemons, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

According to federal court documents, Skiff would travel to Denver and buy marijuana from Clemons, then bring it back to Rapid City to sell it. On some trips, Skiff bought as much as 100 to 200 pounds of marijuana. He made the trips between January 2004 and December 2007.

Clemons admitted she bought marijuana from another source, then resold it to Skiff and other customers between January 2004 and September 2006.

Skiff faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a possible maximum of life in prison and a $4 million fine. Clemons will serve a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, with a possible maximum of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.

Both are in custody pending sentencing Oct. 20.

In other federal court news:

* Larry Short Horn, 48, Kyle, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew Bogue to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release for escape. Short Horn pleaded guilty to the charge. He was serving a 78-month sentence on an assault charge when he was furloughed Jan. 15 to travel from Florence, Colo., to Rapid City to complete the remaining six months of his sentence at a medical facility. He failed to appear.

* Colton Douville, 20, Parmelee, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to three years probation for being a drug user in possession of a firearm. He was originally indicted on an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Douville admitted to possessing a Tikka .300-caliber Magnum rifle on Nov. 4. Douville will be admitted to McCrossan's Boys Ranch to complete its six-month program, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

* Marlin Hawk Wing, 43, Pine Ridge, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury, admitting that he hit a woman with his fists so hard that he fractured her eye socket. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is in custody pending sentencing Oct. 8.

* Charles Little Bear, also known as Dale Little Bear, 41, Hermosa, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with forcing a person younger than 16 years old to have sexual contact with him. According to federal court documents, the alleged incident happened Aug. 18 at Red Shirt. If convicted, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison with a maximum of life and a $250,000 fine. Little Bear is in custody pending trial.

* Albert Lucero, 37, Wounded Knee, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to federal court documents, he is accused of using a knife to assault a person at Wounded Knee on June 29. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each charge is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Lucero is in custody pending trial.

* Shanon LeCompte, also known as Shanon Morgan, 32, Eagle Butte, pleaded not guilty to a charge of larceny. Federal court documents show she is accused of taking cash, checks and deposit slips valued at more than $1,000 from the City of Eagle Butte. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. LeCompte was released on bond pending trial.

Editor's note: The U.S. District Court generally prosecutes felonies committed on reservations; 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.