Rosebud Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer

Pierre, South Dakota - In a recent development, Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange of the U.S. District Court sentenced Jeffery Yellow Hawk, a 34-year-old Rosebud man, for his conviction of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing occurred on December 19, 2023, and delivered significant penalties.

Jeffery Yellow Hawk has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

This legal action stems from Yellow Hawk's indictment by a federal grand jury in July 2023, to which he pleaded guilty on October 23, 2023.

The incident leading to Yellow Hawk's conviction transpired on the evening of June 16, 2023, in the Rosebud area. Yellow Hawk was driving a motor vehicle and encountered a sobriety checkpoint. In an attempt to evade the checkpoint, he executed an illegal U-turn and fled the scene. Law enforcement officers from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe pursued Yellow Hawk to his residence.

Upon arriving at his residence, Yellow Hawk disregarded the commands of the pursuing officers and brought two firearms into his home. Subsequently, he brandished a loaded firearm at the officers. Yellow Hawk was eventually arrested after exiting his residence, and officers seized a loaded shotgun and a loaded rifle from his premises. As part of his sentence, Yellow Hawk will forfeit ownership of these firearms and ammunition.

The investigation into this case was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson.

This case falls under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. It brings together various law enforcement agencies and communities to enhance safety and prevent crime. The Department of Justice reinforced this strategy in May 2021, emphasizing core principles like fostering trust, supporting community-based organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

Jeffery Yellow Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.