Clark Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Daniel T. Weber, age 59, of Clark, appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on January 30, 2012, and pled guilty to one count of a superseding indictment that charged him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The conviction relates to Daniel T. Weber and others falsely conspiring to obtain grazing privileges from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to pasture non-Indian owned cattle on tribally owned grazing range units by falsely claiming that Weber’s cattle were owned by Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members.

This scheme allowed Weber and his co-conspirators to avoid paying the $6 per head, per month, Cheyenne River Sioux fee, thereby defrauding the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of approximately $18,378. Weber, in his plea agreement, agreed that he is responsible for one third of this loss to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, which is $12,252, and agreed to pay this amount in restitution to the Tribe.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikal Hanson.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for April 16, 2012. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.