Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Two Omaha men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the interstate transportation of stolen money. U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann handed down the sentences on September 15, 2025, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell.
Roberto Carlos Gonzalez Miranda, 24, received a sentence of five years and ten months in federal prison. His co-defendant, Roberto Orellana, 46, was sentenced to four years and two months. Both men were ordered to pay $352,000 in restitution to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Additionally, Miranda must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund while Orellana is required to pay $200.
The case stems from an incident on February 25, 2024, when staff at Grand River Casino in rural Mobridge, South Dakota received a phone call from someone posing as a U.S. Government official. The caller claimed that the casino owed $700,000 in audit fees and threatened fines if immediate payment was not made. Following instructions from the caller, casino personnel took cash from the vault and transported it to Mitchell, South Dakota.
Miranda and Orellana acted as money mules for a transnational criminal organization during the winter of 2023-2024. On February 25th they were sent by this organization to Mitchell to collect funds obtained through fraud at the casino. The individual who orchestrated the scheme has not been identified and authorities have not recovered the stolen money.
Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024 and pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Mitchell Police Department and Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
After sentencing Miranda and Orellana were immediately remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
