Trude Clown, Larceny, South Dakota 2023

A Lantry woman has been sentenced for Larceny in a federal court in South Dakota.

SIOUX FALLS - Trude Clown, age 47, was sentenced to all time served through October 11, 2023, equal to approximately one-and-a-half months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Clown was further ordered to pay restitution of $20,143.61 and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The conviction stemmed from Clown purchasing a variety of goods and services between February 1, 2022, and June 1, 2022, with information she obtained from the victim’s bank card.

Clown used this information to make numerous unauthorized purchases online and from businesses located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Indian Reservation.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

Clown was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case against Trude Clown began in August of 2022, when she was indicted for Larceny by a federal grand jury.

She pleaded guilty on May 31, 2023, and was subsequently sentenced on September 1, 2023.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/lantry-woman-sentenced-larceny