July 2026: U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rushville, Nebraska, woman convicted of four counts of Wire Fraud and three counts of Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on June 29, 2026. Buffy Redfish, age 57, was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in federal prison, followe d by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,744,415.36 in restitution. From May 2006 to November 2024, Redfish worked for the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s (OST) Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), which enforces the tribal requirement that all employers engaged in business on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation give preference to qualified Native Americans in employment, contracting, and other business or economic development activities. One of Redfish’s duties was to collect TERO fee checks from contractors and transfer them to OST’s revenue department for deposit into the tribe’s general fund. Between November 2017 and May 2024, Redfish and a co-defendant, working together, developed a scheme to defraud OST by diverting TERO fee checks totaling more than $4.7 million belonging to the tribe and depositing the checks into the co-defendant’s bank account. The two then split the embezzled funds between themselves and used the funds for their own personal benefit, including purchasing homes and vehicles. Redfish is a member of the Gila Tribe in Arizona. “This Administration has made prosecution of government fraud a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “This substantial prison sentence for stealing millions of dollars from the Oglala Sioux Tribe is another step forward by our office in fulfilling that directive.” “Together with her co-defendant, Buffy Redfish stole $4.7 million from an Oglala Sioux Tribe program and out of the hands of the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “The FBI will take every necessary investigative step to stop fraud and ensure the integrity of public programs. Those entrusted with public and tribal funds must uphold that trust or they face significant prison sentences.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Redfish was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. ###   January 2025: A federal grand jury has indicted a Porcupine, South Dakota, man and a Rushville, Nebraska, woman for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 22 counts of Wire Fraud, and seven counts of Money Laundering. Patrick Ross, age 55, and Buffy Redfish, age 56, were indicted in December 2024. Both have pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund on each count. Restitution may also be ordered. Between May 2017 and May 2024, while Redfish was working for the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), she and Ross, working together, developed a scheme to defraud the Oglala Sioux Tribe by diverting TERO fee checks totaling more than $4.7 million belonging to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and depositing the checks into Ross’s bank account. Ross and Redfish then split the embezzled funds between themselves and used the funds for their own personal benefit, including buying homes and vehicles. Ross is a citizen of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Redfish is a citizen of the Gila Tribe in Arizona. The charges are merely an accusation and Ross and Redfish are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case. Ross and Redfish were released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been scheduled for March 25, 2025. ...read more read less