Big Bend Community Member Sentenced on Misprision of Felony Charge

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Big Bend Community member, charged with Misprision of a Felony was sentenced on July 18, 2012, by United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Loren “Rocky” Fallis, age 58, was sentenced to 1 month in custody, 1 year of supervised release, $1,000 in restitution, a $500 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.
Fallis was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 14, 2011. He pled guilty to Misprision of a Felony on April 30, 2012.

The conviction stems from an incident when Fallis lied to officials from the Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General, about a meeting on October 21, 2008, where a contractor divided cash between several current and former members of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribal (CCST) Council. Fallis, a former council member himself, denied knowledge of the meeting, denied he was present at the meeting, and denied witnessing others receiving money or receiving money himself from the contractor. He also denied knowing about any instances of the contractor giving money to members of the tribal council.

This case is the last of several cases involving corruption and bribery on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation. All other participants at the October 21, 2008, meeting have previously been convicted of various offenses and sentenced to time in prison. Contractor Archie Baumann was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment; Norman Thompson, Treasurer CCST, was sentenced to 50 months of imprisonment; Randy Shields, Vice Chairman CCST, was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment; and Scott Raue, Superintendent of CC Tribal Schools, was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service; and the United States Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

Fallis will report to the United States Marshal’s Service on August 1, 2012, to begin serving his sentence.