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Martin Woman Sentenced in Federal Program Fraud Scheme
A 32-year-old woman from Martin, South Dakota, was sentenced to 14 months in custody for her role in a federal program fraud scheme that defrauded the Oglala Sioux Tribe of $109,135.
Samone Darla Milk, 32, was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds and was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on May 6, 2014. In addition to her prison sentence, Milk was also ordered to make restitution of $109,135 and serve three years of supervised release.
Milk was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 8, 2013, for Conspiracy to Commit Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds and two counts of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. She pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on January 3, 2014, and the other charges were dismissed.
According to court documents, from May 2009 through December 2009, Milk formed an agreement with others to steal funds belonging to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. As the executive secretary for the Tribe’s Energy/Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Milk and her co-conspirators drafted fake invoices and quotes for contract work purportedly to be completed by co-conspirators. Milk facilitated the processing of these documents through the Energy/LIHEAP program, resulting in checks being issued by the Tribe’s Treasurer’s Office to pay for the fraudulent invoices.
Milk and her co-conspirators received the checks, cashed them, and divided the funds among themselves to use for their own purposes. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Investigations, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuting the case.
Milk was ordered to turn herself in to the U.S. Marshals Service on or before May 22, 2014. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions and the devastating consequences of their crimes.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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