PIERRE — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - South Dakota), published as received.

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter.  The sentencing took place on February 23, 2026.

Michael Barrera, age 18, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Barrera was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025.  He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2025.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in May of 2025, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.  On that date, Barrera drove to a residence near Mission and entered armed with a shotgun and confronted the victim, an adult male. Barrera argued with the victim and a struggle ensued, during which Barrera shot the victim in the left shoulder, fatally wounding him.  Barrera then fled the scene.  On June 4, 2025, Barrera was arrested at a residence in Rapid City, South Dakota.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department.  Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Barrera was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.