Batesland Man Sentenced for Embezzlement and Fraud from Tribal Organization
BATESLAND, SD– United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Julian Bear Runner, 39, of Batesland, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzlement and fraud. U.S. District Judge Linda R. Reade handed down the sentence on June 20, 2024. Bear Runner was also ordered to pay $82,483.71 in restitution to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and an $800 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bear Runner, the former President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was found guilty of six counts of wire fraud, one count of larceny, and one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal Organization after a three-day jury trial in April 2024. The indictment followed a federal grand jury investigation in September 2022.
From January 2019 to January 2020, Bear Runner exploited his position to fraudulently claim travel expenses for official business that he did not actually undertake. He submitted false travel vouchers for trips to various locations, including New Mexico and New York, and received over $80,000 in advance payments. Bear Runner used these funds for personal gain, including gambling and hotel stays, rather than conducting official tribal business.
The case was part of the Guardians Project, a federal initiative aimed at combating public corruption and fraud within tribal communities. This project brings together multiple agencies, including the FBI and various Inspectors General, to address abuses involving federal funds and contracts.
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The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Patterson and Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Bear Runner has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
For more information about the Guardians Project or to report suspected crimes, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400.
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