MIAMI, Florida — A South Florida federal judge has sentenced a Miccosukee tribe member to nearly 17 years in federal prison for shooting and seriously injuring an unarmed man on the reservation. Sutanga Rex Cypress, 43, of the Miccosukee tribe, was involved in a heated argument with the victim, also a tribal member, when he pulled out a Sig Sauer firearm and shot the victim in the abdomen.
The victim was airlifted to a hospital and survived, but sustained permanent injuries. In September, Cypress pled guilty to charges including assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. United States District Judge Jacqueline Becerra also sentenced Cypress to five years of supervised release and a $50,000 fine, with a restitution hearing set for May 6, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida…