Teri Pretty Weasel Indicted in $1K Tribal Bingo Embezzlement

Teri Pretty Weasel, a 35-year-old woman from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, stands accused of stealing from her own community. Indicted on March 12, 2019, by a federal grand jury, Pretty Weasel faces charges of Embezzlement and Theft from a Tribal Organization and Larceny, after allegedly siphoning over $1,000 from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Bingo Operations.

The indictment alleges that between February 27, 2015, and March 13, 2015, Pretty Weasel, serving as a cashier for the tribal bingo operation, embezzled and converted funds belonging to the organization. As an employee entrusted with handling tribal revenue, she is accused of betraying that trust by funneling tribal money for her own use—striking at the heart of a community already struggling with systemic underfunding and corruption.

Pretty Weasel appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 18, 2019, where she entered a plea of not guilty. Despite her plea, the charges carry a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court may also order full restitution to the tribe.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. It falls under the umbrella of the Guardians Project, a federal initiative targeting fraud, embezzlement, and public corruption in South Dakota’s Indian country. The project aims to strengthen accountability and transparency in tribal programs funded by federal dollars.

Pretty Weasel was released on bond pending trial, though no trial date has been scheduled. The charges remain allegations, and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Still, the case underscores the federal government’s sharpened focus on financial crimes that exploit vulnerable tribal economies.

The Guardians Project, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, includes participation from multiple federal agencies—FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Interior OIG, HUD OIG, and others—all working to root out misuse of funds intended for tribal development and welfare. For tips on suspected crimes, contact your local federal agency or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400.