Fort Thompson Man Charged with Embezzlement and Theft

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.

Christopher Rabbit, age 42, was indicted on March 13, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 20, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between December 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, Rabbit embezzled, stole, willfully misapplied and permitted to be misapplied, and converted to his own use more than $1,000 of monies, funds, credits, goods, assets, and other property belonging to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe Solid Waste Management Program, an Indian Tribal organization.

The charge is merely an accusation and Rabbit is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.   

Rabbit was released on bond pending trial, which has not been set.