Pine Ridge Woman Pleads Guilty To False Statement

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Natalie White Plume, a/k/a Natalie Lame, age 36, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota appeared before Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court, on March 8, 2013 and pled guilty to False Statement. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Between March and April 2011, White Plume did not disclose income as required on her Economic Assistance Application for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), a United States Department of Health and Human Services Program, and her application for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a United States Department of Agriculture Program. Both federal programs are administered by the State of South Dakota Department of Social Services, and the investigation was conducted by that agency.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for June 11, 2013. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.