Posted on: February 27, 2023, 08:14h.
Final up to date on: February 27, 2023, 08:14h.
The previous chief of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which operates the Prairie Wind On line casino on its Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, is dealing with federal wire fraud, larceny, and embezzlement expenses.
Julian Bear Runner, 37, was president of the tribe for little greater than a yr. However throughout that point, he managed to embezzle greater than $80,000 in tribal funds, in accordance with a federal indictment, unsealed Thursday.
He used the funds as his personal private piggy financial institution, which included “cashing the checks and spending the cash on the Prairie Wind On line casino,” per the indictment.
The ex-president is accused of submitting fraudulent vouchers so as to obtain checks from the tribe for work-related journeys that have been by no means taken. He denies the costs,
‘Scheme to Defraud’
Bear Runner turned the second youngest chief of the Oglala Sioux on his November 2018 election, however instantly after taking workplace, he engaged in “a scheme and artifice to defraud the Oglala Sioux Tribe and enrich himself,” in accordance with courtroom paperwork.
Starting in January 2019 and persevering with via January 2020, Bear Runner started scheduling official journey and receiving checks for associated prices when in truth he was not touring or incurring the prices of airline flights, motels, or meals,” reads the indictment.
“Regardless of realizing he had not traveled and that he was not entitled to the journey funds, Bear Runner fraudulently submitted vouchers claiming he was going to journey and was entitled to journey funds,” it provides.
Checkered Authorized Historical past
Bear Runner’s tenure was dogged by controversy. He backed progressive causes inside the tribe, similar to same-sex marriage and authorized marijuana, whereas opposing legalizing alcohol in casinos.
However in Could 2020, he was arrested on the reservation for drunk driving and assault.
In July of that yr, he was suspended from workplace for 30 days after council members have been aggrieved that he made himself unreachable after issuing a 72-hour lockdown through the pandemic, The Fast Metropolis Journal experiences.
A month later, he was positioned on unpaid go away after being accused of coercing a 17-year-old male into intercourse. He narrowly survived an impeachment vote however subsequently didn’t Win assist for reelection in November 2020.
Days later, he was arrested in Fast Metropolis for failure to vacate. That was after police responded to a name that he was combating personal safety on the Cheers Sports activities Bar & On line casino on the Grand Gateway Lodge.
Bear Runner is presently being held awaiting trial within the Pennington County Jail.
