Pine Ridge Man Convicted After Trial of Federal Drug Conspiracy Charge

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Clayton High Wolf, Jr., age 41, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on August 20, 2026.

The charge for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a $10 million dollar fine, at least five years up to life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

High Wolf, Jr. was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. The investigation determined that beginning in October 2024, High Wolf, Jr. worked with numerous individuals to sell methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to end-users. During the investigation, law enforcement agents arrested High Wolf, Jr. following a high-speed pursuit through residential streets in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. When he was caught, officers discovered High Wolf, Jr. in possession of 90 grams of methamphetamine destined for further distribution.

"The conviction of this methamphetamine dealer distributing that poison on the Pine Ridge Reservation will improve public safety," said U.S. Attorney Parsons. "Our federal prosecutors and their teams do incredible work and are dedicated to the mission of trying to ensure that every community in South Dakota is as safe as it can possibly be."

This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.

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