Ex-Oglala Sioux President Julian Bear Runner Jailed for $80K Scam

RAPID CITY, SD – Former Oglala Sioux Tribe President Julian Bear Runner, 39, of Batesland, South Dakota, is headed to federal prison after being convicted of systematically defrauding the tribe out of over $80,000. U.S. District Judge Linda R. Reade sentenced Bear Runner on June 20, 2024, to 22 months in prison on each of six counts of Wire Fraud, one count of Larceny, and one count of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization – sentences to run concurrently. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release and a hefty bill: $800 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $82,483.71 in restitution to the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

The case, brought forth by a federal grand jury indictment in September 2022, culminated in a three-day jury trial in April 2024, where Bear Runner was found guilty on all counts. The evidence revealed a calculated scheme between January 2019 and January 2020, where Bear Runner, while still at the helm of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, fabricated travel authorizations for supposed official business. He claimed the need to travel to locations across the country – New Mexico, Montana, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, and Arizona – but never boarded a single plane.

Instead of conducting tribal business, Bear Runner cashed the fraudulently obtained advance travel payments, totaling over $80,000, at a local casino. Court documents detail a pattern of gambling and lavish stays in hotels, all funded by stolen tribal funds. The scheme was a blatant betrayal of public trust and a direct hit to the resources intended to serve the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The brazen nature of the fraud is what infuriated investigators.

This investigation was conducted under the umbrella of the “Guardians Project,” a multi-agency federal initiative specifically designed to combat public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement impacting Indian country communities in South Dakota. The project brings together the FBI, multiple Inspectors General offices (Department of Interior, Health and Human Services, etc.), IRS Criminal Investigation, and other federal law enforcement entities to focus on protecting tribal funds and holding perpetrators accountable. It’s a clear signal that federal authorities are prioritizing these cases.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Patterson and Megan Poppen successfully prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on financial records and travel discrepancies. The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the FBI led the investigation. Bear Runner was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing, ending his freedom and marking a significant victory for the Guardians Project.

Anyone with information regarding potential fraud or corruption impacting tribal communities is encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400 or their local federal law enforcement agency. The Guardians Project seeks to empower citizens to report wrongdoing and ensure that those who exploit tribal resources face the full weight of the law. This case serves as a stark warning: stealing from tribal communities will not be tolerated.