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A jury on Thursday convicted a former tribal leader in South Dakota of defrauding his tribe of thousands of dollars.
After a three-day trial, the jury convicted former Oglala Sioux Tribe Chairman Julian Bear Runner, 38, of Pine Ridge, on six counts of wire fraud, as well as theft and embezzlement.
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A 2022 federal indictment alleged that Bear Runner presented vouchers while president in 2019 and 2020 for work-related trips he did not take, and received about $80,000 in checks, which authorities said he took for his personal use, including games of chance and hotels. corset.
“When government leaders abuse positions of power for personal financial gain, it is the public that pays the price,” South Dakota U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell said in a statement. “In this case, Julian Bear Runner stole more than $80,000 from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, embezzling money that could otherwise have been used to improve the lives of those living on the Pine Ridge Reservation.”
The maximum penalty for the charges includes 20 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release, according to Ramsdell’s office. Bear Runner’s sentencing date has not yet been set.
His public defender did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.
Oglala Sioux Tribe Chairman Frank Star Comes Out did not immediately respond to a text message for comment.
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