A jury on Thursday convicted a former South Dakota tribal leader of defrauding his tribe of thousands of dollars.
After a three-day trial, a jury found former Oglala Sioux Tribal Chairman Julian Bear Runner, 38, of Pine Ridge, guilty of six counts of wire fraud and theft and embezzlement. .
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A 2022 federal indictment alleges that Bear Runner submitted vouchers for work-related trips he did not take and received checks for approximately $80,000 during his 2019 and 2020 presidential terms. Authorities say they received the money for personal use, including gambling and hotels. stay.
A jury has convicted a former South Dakota tribal leader of defrauding his tribe of thousands of dollars.
“When government leaders abuse their positions of power for personal financial gain, the people pay the price,” Alison Ramsdell, the U.S. attorney for South Dakota, said in a statement. “In this case, Julian Bear Runner stole more than $80,000 from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, embezzling money that could have been used to improve the lives of people living throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation.”
The maximum penalty for the charge includes 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, and three years of supervised release, Ramsdell’s office said. A sentencing date for Bear Runner has not yet been set.
His public defender did not respond to a phone call seeking comment.
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Oglala Sioux Tribal Chairman Frank Starr Comingout did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.
