U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell | U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced the sentencing of Ethan Blue Bird, a 35-year-old resident of Mission, South Dakota. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte sentenced Blue Bird for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and failure to appear in federal court.
The sentencing occurred on August 5, 2024. Blue Bird received a prison term of three years and ten months, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also fined $1,000 and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Blue Bird was initially indicted for failing to appear in April 2023 and later faced charges in January 2024 for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He entered a guilty plea on May 6, 2024.
Between January 2021 and April 2023, Blue Bird participated in a conspiracy with others to distribute methamphetamine on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. His involvement included distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine. On April 24, 2022, authorities found him in possession of a firearm. He admitted to law enforcement that he was a daily user of methamphetamine. After his initial indictment, Blue Bird was released under bond conditions but failed to attend his scheduled jury trial on March 28, 2023.
The investigation into these cases involved several agencies: the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan Dilges and Kirk Albertson led the prosecution efforts.
Following his sentencing, Blue Bird was immediately placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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