St. Francis Man Sentenced For Larceny

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny was sentenced on November 25, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange. 

John Swift, age 55, was sentenced to 2 years’ probation, a $500 fine, $9,458.49 in restitution, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
 
Swift was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 13, 2013, and pled guilty to the charge on July 23, 2013. 

The conviction stems from incidents that took place between August 2009 and December 2010, when Swift was the Chief of the St. Francis Volunteer Fire Department.  Swift wrote himself 9 checks from the St. Francis Volunteer Fire Department’s checking account totaling $5,200, which he had countersigned by co-defendant Harvey LaPointe.  Swift countersigned 12 checks for other members of the fire department totaling $2,800.  These 21 checks were issued to Swift and others who were not entitled to those funds, which were designated by the Todd County Treasurer to pay for insurance premiums for the fire department.   Swift also took and carried away property that belonged to the St. Francis Volunteer Fire Department. 

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie H. Ruettgers.