Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Deputy U.S. Marshal and Threatening to Murder Federal Officers

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer and Threatening a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2026.

Franklin Long Black Cat, 32, was sentenced to serve three years and five months in federal prison for the Assaulting a Federal Officer conviction to run concurrently with the Threatening a Federal Officer conviction, followed by three years of supervised release. Long Black Cat was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Long Black Cat was indicted for Assaulting a Federal Officer and two counts of Threatening a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He was found guilty following a two-day jury trial on January 29, 2026.

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.

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