A woman from Martin, South Dakota, has been sentenced to federal prison for larceny involving a tribal organization. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on January 24, 2025.
Madonna Peterson, aged 59, received a sentence of 12 months and one day in federal prison. Following her incarceration, she will undergo one year of supervised release. Additionally, she must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $150,000 in restitution to the Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation (WHB).
Peterson was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023 on charges of larceny and embezzlement from an Indian Tribal Organization. She entered a guilty plea on September 30, 2024.
Between 2014 and July 2021, while serving as Chief Financial Officer for WHB, Peterson wrote unauthorized checks to herself and submitted fraudulent reimbursement requests for non-existent travel and supplies. The stolen funds were used for personal expenses, including gambling at casinos.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson led the prosecution.
Peterson is required to self-surrender on February 18, 2025, to begin her prison term.