United States Drug Enforcement Administration

RAPID CITY, SD – United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced at a joint press conference held today in Rapid City, South Dakota, that a multi-agency law enforcement operation has resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals located throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation, Rapid City, and Box Elder, South Dakota, as well as in Colorado, as part of Operation Take Back America, with the goal of protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Operation Black Book is a federal investigation into a multi-state cocaine trafficking organization responsible for importing kilograms of cocaine into western South Dakota, including to communities within the Pine Ridge Reservation. Through the investigation, law enforcement has thus far seized over 37 firearms, more than $61,000, and approximately five kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution in South Dakota.

The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI Badlands Safe Trails Task Force (FBI Task Force) in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The South Dakota National Guard Counter Drug Unit, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and Rapid City Police Department also assisted in the investigation. The FBI Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs—Division of Drug Enforcement, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.

The first phase of the operation occurred in Colorado on June 16, 2026, resulting in the arrest of three individuals responsible for supplying the South Dakota drug trafficking organization with cocaine. The second phase of the operation began in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 21, 2026, and continued until the afternoon. By the end of the operation, law enforcement officers arrested 14 targeted fugitives.

The arrestees have all been federally indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Some members of the drug trafficking organization face additional federal charges related to financial crimes and firearms offenses for their conduct in furtherance of the drug trafficking organization. The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be considered. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

“Today this FBI announced the results of Operation Black Book, with 14 arrests of drug trafficking organization members operating near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Southwest South Dakota,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These were subjects allegedly flooding Pine Ridge and surrounding Indian Country with deadly narcotics going unchecked for years - and now they’ll face justice thanks to this sweeping investigation with partners. This op is an example of how this FBI is committing never before seen resources to our Indian Country partners who have been wrongly forgotten for decades. With the launch of Operation Steadfast Promise in April, this FBI’s first of its kind durational campaign to crush violent crime on Tribal Lands, the FBI now has over 400 agents/staff dedicated to working Indian Country, 3 more Safe Trails Task Forces for a total of 29 – all representing the FBI's largest ever commitment, partnering with 575 federally recognized tribes in America. These communities deserve to be remembered and under this FBI, they will be.”

“The DEA will go wherever an investigation takes us, be that a big city or small village, to remove the threatening individuals determined to profit off of the sale of deadly poisons,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “Today’s operation shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement partners work side-by-side on a cause that benefits our communities.” 

“Operation Black Book is the latest chapter in our mission to carry out this Administration’s directive to completely dismantle and eliminate drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “This complex and skillfully executed operation represents law enforcement at its finest.”

“Operation Black Book is just one piece of the FBI’s total commitment to tribal communities under this year’s surge of resources to tribal lands called Operation Steadfast Promise,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Our agents and task forces are in the community and on tribal lands every day working to protect the public from gang members, drug traffickers, and transnational organized crime. Investigations like this prove that our partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement are paying off for public safety.”

“Drug trafficking organizations exist to make money. IRS-Criminal Investigation exists to follow the money, and we’re proud to use that expertise to support our law enforcement partners in a joint effort to disrupt and dismantle dangerous drug activity,” said IRS-CI St. Louis Field Office Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. 

“These arrests are the result of a strong partnership between law enforcement at the federal, state, tribal and local levels. Together we are taking illegal drugs out of our communities and making our streets safer,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. 

“The Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement is grateful for the outstanding collaboration demonstrated throughout this investigation. The partnership between our agents, the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force, the FBI, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, DEA, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe was essential to achieving these results. Our collective efforts reflect a shared commitment to protecting Indian Country and ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson.

The following is a list of the defendants arrested in connection with Operation Black Book:

• Wuttichai Chankaeo – 32 years old; Commerce City, Colorado
• Joseph Valdez – 49 years old; Westminster, Colorado
• Amber Bravo – 42 years old; Westminster, Colorado
• Zeno Rendon – 31 years old; Box Elder, South Dakota
• Deja Guthmiller – 23 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
• Mason Martin – 23 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
• Dylan Sanchez – 34 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
• Jarrian Ribitsch – 31 years old; Pine Ridge, South Dakota
• Laci Ribitsch – 32 years old; Pine Ridge, South Dakota
• Sara Clifford – 33 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
• Ryan Jones – 38 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
• Caleb Allard – 35 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota
• Savannah Backward – 31 years old; Pine Ridge, South Dakota
• Evan Sanchez – 33 years old; Rapid City, South Dakota

This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 

The FBI’s Operation Steadfast Promise is a comprehensive surge of resources to address a wide range of violent crime threats including gangs and criminal enterprises, violent crimes against children, and fugitive apprehension cases while working to improve public safety in Tribal communities.