Federal sweep across three states yields 168 arrests and 65 charges

The FBI Minneapolis Field Office and regional U.S. attorneys announced that a six-month federal campaign targeting Tribal communities in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota produced 168 arrests and 65 federal charging documents. The initiative, named Operation Steadfast Promise, ran from April 1 through September 30 and focused on violent crime, drug trafficking, and other criminal activity.

During the campaign, law enforcement agencies opened 234 new federal investigations and secured nearly 7,500 months of prison sentences. These totals include two life sentences, one for a murder and another for child sexual abuse. The operation involved multiple specialized efforts aimed at specific types of evidence and victim categories.

Through Operation Trusted Trails, investigators seized 136 firearms, nearly $200,000 in cash, and more than 115,000 grams of narcotics. The narcotics haul included 2.71 kilograms of fentanyl. A separate effort, Operation Ballistic Backlog, examined 1,407 firearms held by Tribal law enforcement and entered 860 cartridge casings into a national database. This work generated 10 links to active criminal investigations.

Investigators also prioritized crimes against children under Operation Resolute Arrow. They identified 28 child victims and located or recovered 36 children on Tribal lands. Nine suspects were charged in physical abuse cases, while 19 people were charged or arrested in investigations involving child sexual abuse.

FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson stated that the initiative reflects a commitment to victims and the Tribal communities served by the agency. The operation relied on partnerships among the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Safe Trails Task Forces, Tribal law enforcement agencies, and U.S. attorneys’ offices across the three-state region.