United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Bloomington, Indiana, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana was sentenced on November 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Sarah Worthman, age 26, was sentenced to time served as of December 2, 2019, (125 days), followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Worthman was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 5, 2019.  She pled guilty on August 19, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on February 21, 2019, where Worthman, and co-defendant Branden Lee, were stopped by law enforcement for speeding on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation while driving a U-Haul truck.  The traffic stop uncovered approximately 150 pounds of marijuana hidden in couches in the cargo hold.  Lee had purchased the marijuana in California and was planning to distribute it in and around Chicago, Illinois.  

Lee previously pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Valparaiso, Indiana, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana was sentenced on September 9, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Brendan Lee, age 25, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100, and a $1,000 fine.

Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 5, 2019.  He pled guilty on June 17, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on February 21, 2019, where Lee, and co-defendant Sarah Worthman, were stopped by law enforcement for speeding on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation while driving a U-Haul truck.  The traffic stop uncovered approximately 150 pounds of marijuana hidden in couches in the cargo hold.  Lee had purchased the marijuana in California and was planning to distribute it in and around Chicago, Illinois.  

Worthman previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and is awaiting sentencing on November 4, 2019.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case.

Lee was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two individuals from Indiana have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana.

Brendan Lee, age 23, from Chesterton, Indiana, and Sarah Worthman, age 23, from Bloomfield, Indiana, were indicted on March 5, 2019.  Both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 7, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on February 21, 2019, Lee and Worthman were traveling through the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in a U-Haul truck and were stopped by law enforcement.  During the traffic stop, law enforcement found approximately 151 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle.  Lee and Worthman were apprehended at the scene.

The charges are merely accusations and Lee and Worthman are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.   

Lee was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial and Worthman was released on bond conditions.  A trial date has been set for April 30, 2019.