Two sentenced for stealing from Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate

Friday, May 10, 2013  

Two people were sentenced for their role in stealing nearly $346,000 from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota.

Tammie Strutz, 52, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and Jacqueline Wanna, 67, was sentenced to five years probation and six months of house arrest. Both pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting misapplication of funds from an Indian tribal organization.

Two others were already sentenced for their role in the crime. Lloyd LaBelle Jr., 53, was sentenced to 18 months and Charlene Wanna, 61, was sentenced to 33 months.

Wanna is the only one who went to trial and was found guilty. She is appealing.

The four were elected members of the tribe's Heipa District when they stole the money, authorities said.

Get the Story:
Two sentenced in Aberdeen for tribal embezzlement (The Aberdeen American News 5/10)

Michael Roberts: Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate's corruption (10/26)