Pine Ridge Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Embezzlement and Theft from Indian Tribal Organization

United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Theft of Money from Federal Program and Embezzlement and Theft from Indian Tribal Organization.

Darcel Pourier, age 37, was indicted on March 17, 2022.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on March 18, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to Pourier, an agent of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, embezzling at least $5,000 in 2021 from the OST Health Administration Department. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.

Pourier was released from custody pending trial.  A trial date has been set for May 24, 2022.