Sisseton Woman Charged with Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sisseton, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.

Jordyn Juanita Kirk, age 25, was indicted on July 20, 2020.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on July 30, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison 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 August 17, 2018, and October 5, 2018, Kirk willfully and unlawfully embezzled, stole, knowingly converted to her own use, willfully misapplied, and willfully permitted to be misapplied, over $1,000 of the moneys, funds, credits, goods, assets, and other property belonging to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribal Court of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, an Indian tribal organization, and entrusted to the custody and care of an officer, employee, and agent of an Indian tribal organization

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

The case was brought pursuant to The Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities.  The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities.  Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include:  Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspector Service; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.

For additional information about The Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400.  To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.   

Kirk was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.