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 Second Degree Murder, Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, Robbery, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026.
Frank White Thunder, age 38, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $600 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Thunder and co-defendants Jesse White Thunder, age 41, and Michael Leader Charge, age 25, both also of Mission, were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
On October 6, 2025, Jesse White Thunder and Michael Leader Charge each pleaded guilty to Accessory After the Fact to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. Both men were sentenced on February 17, 2026. Jesse White Thunder was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Michael Leader Charge was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Frank White Thunder proceeded to a federal jury trial that concluded on January 30, 2026. At trial, the evidence established that on the evening of October 22, 2024, Michael Leader Charge drove Frank White Thunder and Jesse White Thunder to a residence in the Antelope housing community, near Mission, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Frank White Thunder confronted the victim outside the residence and stabbed him in the torso with a martial-arts style sword, mortally wounding the victim. Jesse White Thunder was standing nearby and immediately took from the victim’s pockets two imitation pistols. Surveillance video showed the defendants’ vehicle leaving the scene and all three men were located the next day.
Frank White Thunder was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in 2008. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of any change in residence. At the time of the murder, he had an active federal arrest warrant for failing to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the United States Marshals Service, and the FBI. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Frank White Thunder, Jesse White Thunder, and Michael Leader Charge were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencing hearings.
