Chamberlain Woman Charged with Embezzlement and Theft

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Chamberlain, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.

Lana Steele, age 53, was indicted on March 13, 2018.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 19, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between November 2013 and November 2015, Steele embezzled, stole, willfully misapplied and permitted to be misapplied, and converted to her own use more than $1,000 of monies, funds, credits, goods, assets, and other property belonging to the Crow Creek District Business Committee, an Indian Tribal organization.

The charge is merely an accusation and Steele is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Steele was released on bond pending trial, which has not been set.