Mitchell Man Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officer

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on November 12, 2024

Dustin Todd Long, age 38, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Long was indicted for by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 14, 2024.

The conviction stems from Long pointing a handgun toward Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officers after refusing to obey their commands in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. During the incident, Long waved the handgun around while walking toward Main Street, where he continued to ignore commands to drop the firearm. After Long was apprehended, law enforcement was able to determine that the firearm was unloaded.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

Long was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.