Pine Ridge Man Convicted of Assaulting a Deputy U.S. Marshal and of Threatening to Murder Federal Officers

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Franklin Long Black Cat, age 32, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, of Assaulting a Federal Officer and two counts of Threatening a Federal Officer following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on January 29, 2026.

The maximum penalty for the assault charge is eight years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and the threat charges carry a maximum penalty of ten years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine. All three charges carry a maximum term of three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Long Black Cat was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2025.

On November 18, 2025, Long Black Cat was in the custody of the United States Marshals Service at the federal courthouse in Rapid City in connection with a court hearing. Long Black Cat spit in the face of one Deputy United States Marshal and threatened to shoot two other Deputy United States Marshals.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has yet to be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.