Former BIA officer sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor and lying to investigators (DOJ)

Murrell Deela, a former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer, was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison for sexual abuse involving a minor and to lying to federal investigators.

According to records filed in the case, on Aug. 7, 2024, Deela, then 29 years old, was on duty and acting in his official capacity as a BIA officer in the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, when he encountered the minor victim. Deela apprehended the victim and placed her in the back of his patrol vehicle. Instead of driving the teenager to her family's house, Deela drove the minor to an alternate location. Deela then engaged in sexual acts with the minor victim without the victim's consent. The minor victim disclosed the victimization the following day, and the FBI's analysis of the evidence provided additional facts that corroborated the minor's outcry.

"The vast majority of federal law enforcement officers carry out their duties and responsibilities with exceptional skill and courage," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "But when those tasked with enforcing the law violate their duty by sexually assaulting individuals in their care and custody, especially minor victims, the Department of Justice will hold them fully accountable. Today's sentence reflects the principle that those who abuse their power by targeting children for sexual gratification will be met with the full force of the law."

"The victim showed a tremendous amount of courage coming forward to help ensure Mr. Deela was held accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Justin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office. "Sexual abuse of a minor is a devastating crime, only compounded by an offender's attempt to deceive investigators. No badge or title places anyone above the law and we are committed to pursuing justice for victims."

Several days after the incident, Deela was instructed to bring his patrol vehicle to the BIA station for evidence collection. Hours prior to the scheduled report time, Deela reported that his patrol vehicle was on fire. The patrol vehicle and its video system were severely burned. An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the patrol vehicle was set on fire intentionally.

Following the incident, Deela wrote a false report omitting that he had driven the minor victim to the alternate location. When interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Deela falsely told agents that he drove the minor directly to her family's home and had not made any other stops. When confronted with evidence, Deela later admitted that he had driven the minor to an alternate location.

The case was investigated by the FBI and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee for the District of North Dakota, Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and former Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison prosecuted the case.