A Colorado man who admitted supplying cocaine to dealers who distributed it on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.

Manuel Garcia, 33, Aurora, Colo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to prison time plus five years supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

According to federal court documents, he admitted to his involvement in a drug conspiracy that began in or before 2003 and continued through last spring. Garcia said he and others transported cocaine from Denver to Pine Ridge for distribution.

Judge Schreier has also sentenced another person who pleaded guilty to his involvement in the same conspiracy between 2002 and 2008. Dominique "Dom" Saucedo, 25, Pine Ridge, was sentenced to 87 months in prison and five years supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Two others charged in the case have pleaded guilty, while five are set for trial in March. Daryl Saucedo, 22, Oglala, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and will be sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. Tyler Eagle Bull, 23, has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

Lawrence Vigil, 25, Alvina White Bull, 47, Lyle Wilson, 47, Joe Brewer, 21, and Brandon Ecoffey, 25, are awaiting trial.

In other federal court news:

• Allen Wells, 18, Rapid City, was sentenced by Judge Schreier to two years probation for stabbing a person last April. Wells was originally indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon and later pleaded guilty to assault by striking, beating or wounding. The incident happened at Kyle.
• John P. Thin Elk, 31, Parmelee, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, he is accused of entering the home of a Todd County woman and assaulting her on Sept. 8. The maximum penalty upon conviction for burglary is 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each of the three assault charges filed against Thin Elk carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. No trial date was set.
• Hoksila Anthony White Mountain, also known as Wambli Cinca White Mountain, also known as Squashy White Mountain, 26, Eagle Butte, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance. No details were available. If convicted he would face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Federal court records show White Mountain pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute in 2004 and was sentenced to one year and one day in custody and three years supervised release. No trial date was set.
• Bryce Larvie, 18, Mission, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with destruction of an energy facility and larceny. According to federal court documents, he is accused of doing more than $5,000 worth of vandalism to the Western Area Power Administration Mission Substation on Oct 18 and stealing a boom truck worth more than $1,000 from the substation. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. No trial date was set.

Editor's note: 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.