Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Probation for Embezzlement

February 2, 2010 - U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man charged with embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization was sentenced on January 29, 2010, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy. Donald Bettelyoun, age 42, of Pine Ridge, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay $17,552 in restitution and $100 to the Victim Assistance Fund. Bettelyoun was indicted for embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization by a federal grand jury on May 19, 2009. He pled guilty to a superseding information on November 3, 2009, and admitted to willingly and knowingly endorsing and cashing a check drawn on the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Home Improvement Program, for a construction project. Bettelyoun then converted all of the money to his own use and did no work on the project. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.