United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell dropped a bombshell in Pierre, South Dakota, announcing that Mariah Pearl Sazue, 35, of Fort Thompson, has been hit with a federal prison sentence for siphoning off $45,000 from the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe.
Sazue, once the Human Resources Director for the tribe, was caught padding her payroll by submitting forged timesheets and faking overtime hours. The court’s decision came down on July 21, 2025, with Judge Eric C. Schulte sentencing Sazue to three months behind bars followed by two years of supervised release. She also faces a $44,627.25 restitution order and a $100 special assessment for the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The embezzlement spree began in December 2022, with Sazue’s fraudulent activities culminating in her termination in May 2024 for fraud. Despite her claims of innocence, Sazue was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024 and pleaded guilty on April 17, 2025.
This investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem taking the lead in the prosecution.
Sazue has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following her sentencing, marking a stark end to this chapter of financial chicanery within Native American tribal organizations.
With the tribe reeling from the loss, this case serves as a cautionary tale in the ongoing battle against white-collar crime in South Dakota.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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