Final Pine Ridge drug ring defendant pleads guilty

Wednesday, August 22, 2007  

The last defendant of the 27 people who were charged with drug trafficking on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota has pleaded guilty.

Maritza Perez, 25, admitted to distributing cocaine that was sold on the reservation. She also admitted selling cocaine directly to Geraldine Blue Bird, the alleged leader of the drug ring.

Of the 27 people who were indicted, 22 pleaded guilty. Blue Bird and four others went to trial and were found guilty, though they are appealing.

Get the Story:
Reservation drug-trafficking case nearing end (The Rapid City Journal 8/22)

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