North Dakota Woman Sentenced for Larceny

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mandan, North Dakota, woman convicted of Larceny was sentenced on December 14, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Dawn Muir, age 54, was sentenced to 41 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, $29,973.13 in restitution to the Pretty Bird Woman House, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Muir was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 17, 2014.  She pled guilty on June 22, 2015.

The conviction stemmed from a series of incidents beginning on or about February 2, 2011, while Muir was the Executive Director of the Pretty Bird Woman House, a domestic violence shelter located on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, in McLaughlin, South Dakota.  Muir was writing checks to herself from an emergency fund the shelter maintained to provide food and relocation money to victims of domestic violence.  The shelter received several grants from the Department of Justice and Health and Human services to fund its day-to-day operations.  Muir would write the checks payable to herself, claiming the money was mileage reimbursement, travel reimbursement, or used for other non-emergency tasks.  When investigators questioned her about the account, Muir was unable to produce receipts or vouchers to verify the expenditures.  Corresponding deposits into Muir's personal bank account were also discovered.

The check writing scheme resulted in a loss to the Pretty Bird Woman House in the amount of $29,973.13.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.

Muir shall self-report by December 29, 2015.