United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.

Rhonda Uses Many, age 47, was indicted on March 11, 2014. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 14, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

Uses Many is alleged to have willfully and unlawfully stolen, embezzled, misapplied and converted to her own use over $1,000 of the monies, funds and assets belonging to the Cheyenne River Sioux Bingo Hall in February 2012. The charges are merely an accusation and Uses Many is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.

Uses Many was released on bond pending trial. Trial has not been set.