> Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 18:26:23 EDT
> Subject: FBI's Accounting
> From: AIMFL at aol.com
>
> Greetings:
>
> If one reviews the FBI's recently released "Accounting for Native American
> deaths-Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota" one must be struck by the
> pretty graphics and the lack of any recent accountings.
>
> While the FBI's effort here is interesting and interestingly timed release to
> coincide with the 32cnd AIM Conference and the LPDC's renewed efforts and
> Camp Justice... But lets put all that aside and look at the intruiging data
> that comes from this FBI "accounting". Lets put aside for the moment
> potentially erroneous information contained within this document and just
> take it at its word. I found some interesting facts.
>
> Lets look at this one. Here we have 57 deaths-of which all but 9 the FBI
> admits were homicidal or unnatural in nature. So for 46 homicides we have
> 12-where the USATT neglected to prosecute
> 5 which remain unsolved
> 4 were off the rez and out of the jurisdiction of the FBI, but they took the
> time to explain why they didn't think these cases should have been
> prosecuted. Nice of em enit?
> 4 were justified cause cops/FBI did the killing and thats justification enough
> 2 got 20 years
> 2 got 15 years
> 3 got 10 years
> 1 got 8 years
> 1 got 7 years and six months
> 1 got six years
> 1 got 2 years 5 months
> 2 got 5 years
> 1 got 3 years
> 2 got 1 year
> 1 got 18 months
> 1 got probation-for a manslaughter
> 2 got acquitted, prosecution just couldn't get a conviction but darn it they
> tried, or so the pretty booklet says.
>
> But lets see, how long did Leonard get? Hmm. Seems like I recall two life
> sentences. And how long did Richard Marshall get sentenced to? Hmm. How long
> were Patrick and Norma Jean Croy sentenced to? Hmm. Seems like a little
> unequal protection under the law by the admission of the FBI. 8.7% of the
> homicides the FBI admitted occured on Pine Ridge during the reign of terror
> resulted in sentences of more than a decade. Try a stat below 10% in any
> American city. Anywhere for sentences of less than a decade for
> manslaughter/homicide related cases see if 30.4% of the CONVICTIONS get a
> sentencing of less than a decade! I challenge anyone to find a rate that
> forgiving anywhere.
>
> Of the 9 that were not considered homicides at all two or nearly a quarter
> were deaths that while the victim had suffered a severe beating the cause of
> death was ruled accidental or due to intoxication. Like they said on Saturday
> Night Live-Isn't that convienient.
>
> 12 of these 57 cases or 21.1% were cases with the phrases-not to prosecute in
> them. 21.1% seems like a significant percentage where the government elected
> not to prosecute.
>
> And of course how come its so limited? I mean no explanation of Wallace Black
> Elk Jr, John Means, Ronald Heard Heart, Robert Many Horses, Leroy Jackson,
> Mike Berry, Gabby Daniels, Candace Rogh Surface, Ronald Bear Track.. ad
> infinitum. What reason was it they limited it to these 57 cases? The FBI in
> the document asserts it released it due to "These allegations were proffered
> durin the hearings and the Commission was sufficiently impressed by them to
> incorporate the allegations into their findings" Hmm. Seems to little ol' me
> that them there hearings were about recent murders. None of them made the
> neat little pamphlet put together by Douglas J. Domin, Special Agent in
> Charge Minneapolis Division.
>
> Seems the FBI wants the, now don't laugh too hard, trust of the Native
> community-says it right in the fancy colors of the document thats got really
> cool Indian graphics. Well, I dunno seems kinda simple to me. The prosecution
> of those who kill Indians to the EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, not 21% election not
> to prosecute and 30.4% under a decade sentencing ratio. I mean thats like
> more than half the cases right there. Gee I dunno why they have a trust
> problem. And maybe let out Indians that are only incarcerated cause they are
> Indian-like Leonard Peltier, Scott Seeyle, Chris Bald Eagle, Eddie Hatcher,
> ad infinitum. Perhaps if the FBI stopped acting like the 7th Cavalry
> revisited..... I dunno.
>
> And you come to that, just by reading what they say at face value. Mix in
> some reality and...
>
> Later,
>
> Sheridan