United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Allen, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing money order checks, which had a value of over $1,000, from a woman at Pine Ridge in March 2012.
Clarence W. Yellow Hawk, Sr., age 44, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 18, 2012, for Larceny. Yellow Hawk appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on Jan. 10, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 5 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Yellow Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Wayne Venhuizen is prosecuting the case. Yellow Hawk was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for March 19, 2013.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
