Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Killing His Nephew on the Pine Ridge Reservation

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026.

Eric Anduja, 53, was sentenced to 15 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.

Anduja was charged by a Superseding Information with Voluntary Manslaughter. He pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026.

In May 2025, Anduja became intoxicated and got into a disagreement with Alban "Boots" Vitales. During the argument, Anduja ultimately stabbed Vitales in the neck with a kitchen knife. Vitales ran from the residence where the argument had taken place, sought help, and passed away on the front door step of a neighbor's home.

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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.

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