RAPID CITY, S.D. — A federal grand jury has indicted Mason Big Crow, 50, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, on charges of larceny, embezzlement, and theft from an Indian tribal organization, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Big Crow, who served as treasurer for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, is accused of using his position to embezzle tribal funds for personal purchases between January 2021 and March 2023. Prosecutors allege that he misused the tribe’s debit and credit card, as well as its bank accounts, to make unauthorized transactions for his own benefit.
He was indicted in September 2024 and pleaded not guilty during an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollman on Friday. If convicted, Big Crow faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and mandatory restitution.
The case is being prosecuted as part of the Guardians Project, a federal initiative aimed at combating corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal funds in South Dakota’s tribal communities. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Big Crow has been released pending trial, and a trial date has not yet been set.
Authorities said the charges are accusations, and Big Crow remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.