A Parmelee, South Dakota man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon. The sentencing of Leonard Little Thunder III, also known as Yamni Little Thunder, took place on May 7, 2025. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte presided over the case.
Little Thunder, aged 19, will serve six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He is also required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The incident leading to this conviction occurred in November 2023 on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On November 29, Little Thunder fired a short barrel shotgun at an adult male outside his residence near Mission, South Dakota. The victim was wounded in the head. After fleeing the scene, Little Thunder was arrested shortly after at a nearby residence and the shotgun was confiscated as evidence.
The prosecution of this case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021.
This matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office due to the Major Crimes Act requiring certain crimes in Indian Country to be prosecuted federally rather than at the state level.
The investigation was conducted by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson led the prosecution.
Following his sentencing, Little Thunder was placed into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.