Wyoming Man Gets 10+ Years for Sexual Assault on Crow Reservation

BILLINGS — A Wyoming man was sentenced Tuesday to more than 10 years in federal prison for sexually assaulting a woman on the Crow Indian Reservation in 2021, highlighting ongoing federal efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Indian Country.

Duane Allen Swank Jr., 36, of Basin, Wyoming, received 125 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release from U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. He was also ordered to pay $2,988 in restitution.

Swank pleaded guilty in March to sexual abuse charges stemming from a July 4, 2021 incident that began in Billings and continued onto the Crow Indian Reservation.

According to court documents, Swank was driving a stolen vehicle with three passengers when he dropped off two individuals in Billings and sexually assaulted the remaining woman, identified as Jane Doe. The assault continued as Swank drove toward the Crow Indian Reservation on back roads, where he stopped the car and raped the victim.

“Following the rape, Swank fell asleep, and Doe was able to escape,” court documents state.

DNA evidence extracted from the victim matched Swank’s genetic profile, securing the conviction years after the assault occurred.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, with investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The collaborative effort between federal agencies reflects the complex jurisdictional framework governing crimes on tribal lands.

Under federal law, the FBI has jurisdiction over major crimes committed on Indian reservations, including sexual assault cases. The Bureau of Indian Affairs often assists in investigations on tribal lands throughout Montana.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentencing, emphasizing the federal commitment to prosecuting violent crimes in Indian Country. The case represents part of ongoing federal efforts to address the disproportionate rates of violent crime affecting Native American communities.

The Crow Indian Reservation, located in south-central Montana, spans approximately 2.3 million acres and is home to the Crow Tribe. Like other tribal lands, it falls under federal jurisdiction for major crimes, requiring coordination between tribal, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Swank’s sentence reflects the serious nature of sexual assault crimes and the federal government’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims on tribal lands, according to prosecutors.