Pine Ridge Woman Guilty of Embezzlement

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge woman charged with Embezzlement and Theft From an Indian Tribal Organization was sentenced on June 6, 2011, by US District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken. Latonna Lynn Weasel Bear, age 35, was sentenced to time served, $1570.21 restitution, and a $25 victim assessment.

Weasel Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 19, 2011. In 2009, while employed by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Treasurer's Office, one of her duties was to collect money earned by the Transit Office and deposit that money in the bank. Weasel Bear pled guilty on March 17, 2011, of failing to deposit $1570.21 into the Tribe's account and using the money to pay personal bills.

This case was investigated by the BIA and OST-DPS. Assistant US Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.