Pine Ridge Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement and Theft from Indian Tribal Organization

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Donald Bettelyoun, age 41, of Pine Ridge, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on November 3, 2009, and pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged him with Embezzlement and Theft From an Indian Tribal Organization. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 1 year imprisonment, 1 year supervised release, or both; and a $100,000 fine. Bettelyoun was hired and paid $17,552, which represented an 80 percent down payment of a construction contract with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Home Improvement Program. Bettelyoun received the monies, but he then failed to satisfy any terms of the contract and finish the home improvement work. Another contractor had to be hired to complete the work, and Bettelyoun kept the money paid to him and converted it to his own use. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for January 25, 2010. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.