Pierre Woman Sentenced For Theft Of Government Funds

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft of Government Funds was sentenced on October 28, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.      

Brandis Rose Rose, age 38, was sentenced to 1 month in custody, 5 months of home confinement, 3 years of supervised release, $8,418.08 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
         
The conviction stems from incidents that occurred when Rose embezzled, stole, purloined or knowingly converted to her own use over $8,000 in Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program funds to which she was not entitled.
         
South Dakota CARES (SD CARES) is a Social Security Administration (SSA) approved fee-for-service organizational payee that serves Social Security and SSI beneficiaries in South Dakota.  Rose was an employee of SD CARES from July 6 through November 16, 2009.  During that time, Rose handled the accounts for 14 beneficiaries that were under her care and control.
         
SD CARES became concerned about the possibility of misappropriated funds in February 2010 and reported it to the SSA District Office in Huron.  The SSA Office of Inspector General conducted an audit and interviewed the 14 beneficiaries under Rose’s care and control.  They determined that Rose misappropriated $8,718.08 and converted it to her own use.
         
The investigation was conducted by the SSA Office of the Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller.
         
Rose will immediately begin home confinement.  She will self-report to the U.S. Marshals Office on January 6, 2014, to begin serving her one month of custody.