Dupree Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Frank Veit, age 55, of Dupree, appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on May 3, 2011, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; three years of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment.

The charge relates to Frank Veit and others falsely conspiring to obtain grazing privileges from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to pasture non-Indian owned cattle on tribally owned grazing range units by falsely claiming that the Veit family owned the cattle and livestock as Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members. This scheme allowed the co-conspirators to avoid paying the $6 per head, per month Cheyenne River Sioux fee and thereby defrauding the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of approximately $50,532. Frank Veit, in his plea agreement, agreed that he is responsible for one third of this loss to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, which is $16,844, and agreed to pay this amount in restitution to the Tribe.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mikal Hanson.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for July 21, 2011. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.