RAPID CITY, SD — A jury on Thursday convicted a former tribal leader in South Dakota of defrauding his tribe of thousands of dollars.
After a three-day trial, the jury convicted former Oglala Sioux Tribal President Julian Bear Runner, 38, of Pine Ridge, of six counts of wire fraud, theft and embezzlement.
A 2022 federal indictment alleged that during his presidency in 2019 and 2020, Bear Runner submitted vouchers for work-related trips he did not take and received approximately $80,000 in checks, which authorities say he took for personal use, including gambling and hotel. stays.
“When government leaders abuse positions of power for personal financial gain, it is the public that pays the price,” South Dakota U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell said in a statement. “In this case, Julian Bear Runner stole more than $80,000 from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, embezzling funds that could otherwise have been used to improve the lives of those living on the Pine Ridge Reservation.”
According to Ramsdell’s office, the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Bear Runner’s sentencing date has yet to be determined.
His public defender did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.