⏱ 2 min read
Patrick Fire Thunder and Tracie Renay Gallego, a married couple from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, have been indicted for embezzling funds meant for tribal youth services. Between November 2022 and November 2024, the couple allegedly conspired to obtain and embezzle checks from the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) intended for vendors or reimbursements for social services provided to youth at the Emergency Youth Shelter (EYS). Gallego, the Administrative Assistant for the EYS, would submit vouchers to OST for payment, and then she and Fire Thunder would deposit the checks into his personal bank account for their own benefit.
The couple, both 51 and enrolled members of the OST, face one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 14 counts of Wire Fraud, one count of Larceny, and one count of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, with possible forfeiture and restitution.
U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons condemned the couple’s actions, stating that it’s outrageous for enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe to steal government funds meant for essential services. The case is a prime example of the commitment to uncovering government fraud at every level and prosecuting those responsible.
The indictment was announced in July 2026, and the couple appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Haigh, pleading not guilty to the charges. The prosecution looks forward to proving the charges in federal court and holding the defendants accountable for their alleged theft.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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