United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced the sentencing of Kaleb Mills, also known as Kayleb Mills, to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for sexual abuse. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler on February 10, 2025.
Mills, a resident of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, will also face five years of supervised release following his prison term and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case against Mills began with an indictment by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He entered a guilty plea on October 2, 2024.
The charges relate to an incident where Mills sent a Facebook message to a 17-year-old girl asking if she wanted to meet up. After arranging transportation for her to his home in Pine Ridge, he injected her with methamphetamine. While she was under the influence and unable to consent, Mills engaged in sexual activity with her. This is not Mills' first offense; he was previously convicted on similar charges in 2013.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along with the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and coordinates resources from federal, state, and local levels to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
Due to the Major Crimes Act requiring certain violent crimes occurring in Indian country be tried federally rather than at the state level, this case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The FBI conducted the investigation into this matter with Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen leading the prosecution efforts.
Following his sentencing, Mills was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.