Source: Office of United States Attorneys
RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that 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. Ross appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollman on January 8, 2025, and Redfish appeared before Judge Wollman on January 13, 2025. Both 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.