Rapid City Woman Sentenced for Theft from Indian Tribal Organization

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft from Indian Tribal Organization. The sentencing took place on July 31, 2023.

Tiffany LaClaire, age 36, was sentenced to seven months in federal custody, three months of home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. She was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

LaClaire was indicted for Theft from Indian Tribal Organization by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. She pleaded guilty on May 1, 2023.

The defendant had three children, but her parental rights were terminated in 2011 and the children lived with a new family. On July 19, 2021, the defendant fraudulently applied to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and requested $2,000 for each of her former children under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). In the application, she falsely indicated all three children were living with her and in her custody, and thus she was eligible to receive economic assistance for each of the children under the ARP. She was issued checks and used the money. The money never went to the benefit of the three children. Later, the family that was actually caring for the children learned the fraudulent application had been made by the defendant and the matter was reported and investigated.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.

LaClaire was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.