Pine Ridge Woman Accused of Larceny and Theft of Government Property

A 32-year-old woman from Martin, South Dakota, has been accused of stealing payroll checks belonging to Dakota Plains Legal Services in Mission, South Dakota.

Amy N. Garcia, 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 26, 2016, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on September 28, 2016, where she pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction could be ten years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, three years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges are merely an accusation, and Garcia is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Legal Services Corporation – Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case. Garcia was released pending trial, and a trial date has not been set.

This case is a reminder that the public has a right to know when government agencies are being targeted by thieves. We will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as more information becomes available.

The charges against Garcia are a serious offense, and we hope that justice will be served. We urge anyone with information about this case to come forward and assist the authorities in their investigation.