Wounded Knee Woman Sentenced for Tribal Funds Theft
A South Dakota woman has been sentenced to 3 years of probation and $15,000 in restitution for stealing over $15,000 from a tribal organization. Casey Titus, 27, was sentenced on April 29, 2016, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court for the Western District of South Dakota.
Titus was indicted for Theft from Tribal Organization and Larceny by a federal grand jury on May 19, 2015. She pleaded guilty to Theft from Tribal Organization on November 6, 2015.
From 2010 through May of 2014, Titus worked for the Wounded Knee Community Council as both Vice Chair and Treasurer. According to court documents, Titus embezzled over $15,000 in funds. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Titus was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Her 3-year probation period began immediately.
Theft from Tribal Organization is a serious crime that undermines the trust between the government and Native American communities. The Wounded Knee Community Council relies on the integrity of its employees to manage its funds responsibly.
Titus’s actions not only harmed the Wounded Knee Community Council but also damaged the trust between the community and the government. Her sentence serves as a reminder that embezzlement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Lorelei Exendine, Theft from Indian Tribal Organization, South Dakota 2014 · South Dakota
- Ravae Bowman, Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization, South Dakota 2012 · South Dakota
- Dana Fast Horse, Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization, South Dakota 2013 · South Dakota
- Whitney Bagola, Vehicle Theft, South Dakota 2019 · South Dakota
- Robert Rodney Bland, Wire Fraud and Theft of Government Property, South Dakota 2020 · Colorado
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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