A federal jury in Pierre, South Dakota, has found Joseph Lafferty, 68, of Eagle Butte, guilty of threatening a federal official. The verdict was delivered on January 23, 2026, after a three-day trial.
Lafferty was charged with one count of Threatening a Federal Official. The offense carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. If convicted individuals violate conditions of supervised release, they may face up to two additional years in prison. A $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund is also required. Restitution may be ordered at sentencing.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Lafferty threatened to “get his gun and kill” an employee of the Indian Health Service (IHS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The incident occurred on July 21, 2025, in Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation.
Lafferty was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.
U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons commented on the outcome: “This jury verdict should send a clear message. We take threats of violence against public officials very seriously and they will be investigated and swiftly prosecuted under the full force of the law.”
The FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation has been ordered. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2026. Lafferty remains free pending sentencing.
