United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald announced the sentencing of MICHAEL WAYNE WHITEFEATHER, 18, to 264 months in prison for murder in the second degree. WHITEFEATHER, who pleaded guilty on December 17, 2018, was sentenced today by Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
United States Attorney Erica MacDonald said, “This tragic and senseless act of violence resulted in the death of an innocent young man. We are working in collaboration with our federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners to do all we can to protect our communities from violent crimes such as this.”
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, during the early morning hours of April 28, 2018, WHITEFEATHER and several other members of the Back of Town (“BOT”) gang were driving around looking for rival gang members on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. They encountered the victim and another male walking in a parking lot between the Red Lake Skate Park and the Red Lake Middle and High Schools. WHITEFEATHER and the other BOT gang members mistakenly thought the victim was a rival gang member. WHITEFEATHER exited the vehicle, retrieved a shotgun, and chased after the victim on foot. When WHITEFEATHER caught up to the victim, he assaulted him and shot him in the face, resulting in the victim’s death.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Bemidji Police Department, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, and United States Customs and Border Protection. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.
Defendant Information:
MICHAEL WAYNE WHITEFEATHER, 18
Red Lake, Minn.
Convicted:
Murder in the second degree, 1 count
Sentenced:
264 months in prison
Five years of supervised release
###
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of MICHAEL WAYNE WHITEFEATHER, 18, to murder in the second degree. WHITEFEATHER entered his guilty plea today before Judge Susan Richard Nelson in United States District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, during the early morning hours of April 28, 2018, the defendant was traveling in a car on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and saw Anthony Allen Wells and another male walking in a parking lot near the Red Lake Skate Park. WHITEFEATHER admitted to getting out of the car with a shotgun and chasing after the victim and the other male. WHITEFEATHER eventually caught up to the victim and shot him in the face, which resulted in the victim’s death.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Bemidji Police Department, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, and United States Customs and Border Protection. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.
Defendant Information:
MICHAEL WAYNE WHITEFEATHER, 18
Red Lake, Minn.
Convicted:
Murder in the second degree, 1 count
###
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
###
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY
Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5
Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
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Description: Case type associated with a magistrate case if the current case was merged from a magistrate case
Format: A2
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15
Description: The docket number originally given to a case assigned to a magistrate judge and subsequently merged into a criminal case
Format: A7
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a magistrate case
Format: A3
Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1
Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
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Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
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Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
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Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
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Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5
Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the case was closed
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Description: The number of days from the earlier of filing date or first appearance date to proceeding date
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Description: The number of days from proceeding date to disposition date
Format: N3
Description: The number of days from disposition date to sentencing date
Format: N3
Description: The code of the district office where the case was terminated
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant at the time the case was closed
Format: N2
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense that carried the most severe disposition and penalty under which the defendant was disposed
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE1
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Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE1
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Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE1
Format: N4
Description: A code indicating whether the prison sentence associated with TTITLE1 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4
Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N4
Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N3
Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE1
Format: N8
Description: The total prison time for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and prison time was imposed
Format: N4
Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8
Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10
Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2
Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced a criminal complaint charging MICHAEL WAYNE WHITEFEATHER, 18, with murder in the second degree.WHITEFEATHER made his initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Huseby in United States District Court in Bemidji, Minnesota.
According to the complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on April 28, 2018, following a 911 call, investigators found the body of a male victim on a trail near the intersection of Highway 1 and Pike Creek on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The subsequent autopsy indicated that the victim died of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators located three spent yellow shotgun shells, two were found near the victim’s body and the third was found in a nearby field. Several witnesses reported to investigators that they heard multiple gunshots during the early morning hours of April 28, 2018, near the location where the victim’s body was found.
According to the complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on May 2, 2018, investigators located and arrested WHITEFEATHER in Bemidji. During a post-Miranda interview, WHITEFEATHER admitted to possessing a pump-action shotgun and three yellow shotgun shells, and to shooting the victim in the head with the shotgun.
The FBI is still seeking individuals involved in this matter, if you have any information about their whereabouts please call the FBI at 763-569-8000.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Bemidji Police Department, and the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.
Defendant Information:
MICHAEL WAYNE WHITEFEATHER, 18
Red Lake, Minn.
Charges:
Murder in the second degree, 1 count
###
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY
Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5
Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2
Description: Case type associated with a magistrate case if the current case was merged from a magistrate case
Format: A2
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15
Description: The docket number originally given to a case assigned to a magistrate judge and subsequently merged into a criminal case
Format: A7
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a magistrate case
Format: A3
Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1
Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2
Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5
Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The number of days from the earlier of filing date or first appearance date to proceeding date
Format: N3
Description: The number of days from proceeding date to disposition date
Format: N3
Description: The number of days from disposition date to sentencing date
Format: N3
Description: The code of the district office where the case was terminated
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant at the time the case was closed
Format: N2
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense that carried the most severe disposition and penalty under which the defendant was disposed
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE1
Format: N4
Description: A code indicating whether the prison sentence associated with TTITLE1 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4
Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N4
Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N3
Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE1
Format: N8
Description: The total prison time for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and prison time was imposed
Format: N4
Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8
Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10
Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2
Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
