Mandaree Women Sentenced for Theft from C-Store

MINOT—United States Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on November 21, 2011, Denise M. Fimbres, 24, and Sandy M. Young Bird, 28, both of Mandaree, North Dakota, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland. On August 11, 2011, Fimbres pled guilty to a charge of theft in Indian country, and Young Bird pled guilty to a charge of accessory after the fact.

Judge Hovland sentenced both Fimbres and Young Bird to three years of probation. Fimbres and Young Bird must pay restitution in the total amount of $25,500, and they were each ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund. Both were also ordered to perform 60 hours of community service, with at least four hours per month dedicated to performing service work in or around the business establishment from which the theft occurred.

On November 25, 2010, Fimbres was employed as a store clerk with the Mandaree Enterprises Corporation C-Store. At the conclusion of her work shift, Fimbres, who was the only individual working at the store at the time, removed cash and checks exceeding $1,000 without permission or authority. Upon leaving the C-Store, Fimbres entered apickup driven by Young Bird, and the two women left the state of North Dakota and traveled to the west coast of the United States with the stolen money.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Fort Berthold Agency and the Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.