A Pine Ridge man has pleaded not guilty to federal charges accusing him of stealing more than $100,000 from the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Emergency Youth Shelter.
Patrick Fire Thunder entered the plea Wednesday in federal court. Prosecutors have charged him with 17 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, larceny, embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization.
According to court documents, Fire Thunder is accused of depositing reimbursement checks totaling more than one hundred thousand dollars into his personal bank account.
A co-defendant, Tracie Renay Gallego, faces the same charges. Her initial appearance in federal court is scheduled for Thursday.
The case remains under investigation, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
