St. Francis Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, woman convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter was sentenced on August 23, 2021, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.

Diana Swift, age 32, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Swift was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2020. She pled guilty on June 1, 2021.

The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on September 14, 2020, in Todd County, South Dakota. On that date, Swift had been consuming alcohol, and was driving a car westbound on US Highway 18 west of Mission, South Dakota. Swift was traveling at a high rate of speed when she drifted on the eastbound shoulder, overcorrected and then veered into oncoming traffic, striking an eastbound vehicle driven by the victim, an adult female. The victim died as a result of injuries suffered in the wreck.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Swift was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.