On a reservation in South Florida, a severe altercation escalated to violence when Sutanga Rex Cypress, a member of the Miccosukee tribe, fired his weapon, resulting in almost 17 years of imprisonment. This sentence was handed down by a federal judge earlier this week, a consequence of the serious injury inflicted upon another man during the dispute.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the incident took place after Cypress, 43, brandished a Sig Sauer firearm amidst an argument and shot the victim in the abdomen. The victim, who was unarmed and is also a member of the Miccosukee tribe, was promptly flown to a hospital via helicopter where he received life-saving treatment, however, he sustained permanent injury. In September, Cypress pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assault with intent to do bodily harm, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.
United States District Judge Jacqueline Becerra sentenced Cypress to 198 months in prison, a $50,000 fine, and added a requirement of five years of supervised release post-incarceration. A hearing scheduled for May 6 will further address the matter of restitution Cypress owes to the victim. The prosecution of the case was carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Latoya Brown and Vanessa Bonhomme…