United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on December 19, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Robert Earlwin Lofton, Jr., a/k/a Robert Erwin Lofton, Jr., a/k/a Blue Lofton, age 35, was sentenced to 78 months in custody, 5 years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and forfeiture of $250 in United States currency, two firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement.
Lofton was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016. He pled guilty on September 27, 2016.
Between March of 2014 and April of 2016, Lofton and others conspired and agreed to knowingly and intentionally distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in South Dakota. Lofton received distributable quantities of methamphetamine from individuals who knew that he intended to engage in further distribution of the methamphetamine. Lofton also provided methamphetamine to others knowing that they intended to engage in further distribution of the methamphetamine within the District of South Dakota. Lofton agreed that at least 350 grams of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of the conspiracy.
On October 20, 2014, Lofton was arrested at the Cheyenne River Motel in Eagle Butte, with marijuana, drug paraphernalia, $250, and a pistol firearm and ammunition in his possession. On April 21, 2016, Lofton was arrested on the federal charges, at his residence in Eagle Butte. During the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement found methamphetamine in the residence, as well as a pistol firearm and ammunition in a vehicle parked in the driveway. All of the above items were seized by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.
Lofton was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.