- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Julian Bear Runner, 39, was sentenced last Thursday by a U.S. District Judge to 22 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $80,000in restitution to the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Bear Runner served as the tribe's president from 2018-2020. During his tenure, submitted fraudulent travel vouchers for official business travel for trips he never took. The fraudulent vouchers included travel authorizations to New Mexico, Montana, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, and Arizona. Bear Runner received more than $80,000 in advance travel payments. According to a statement from the Department of Justice, Bear Runner cashed the checks at a casino, gambled, and stayed in local hotels.
In April 2024, a jury convicted Bear Runner of six counts of Wire Fraud, one count of Larceny, and one count of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
With more than 46,000 members, the Oglala Sioux Tribe is the eighth-largest federally recognized tribe in the U.S. The tribe resides on the Pine Ridge reservation, which spans 11,000 square miles in South Dakota. Bear Runner was sworn into office on December 7, 2018, in Kyle, S.D. According to a post on the official Oglala Sioux Tribe Facebook page, he is one of the youngest elected presidents in the tribe's history.
Current Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out could not be reached for comment.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Feds Release Media Guidelines for Reporting on MMIP Cases
Native Bidaské with Robert Maxim on the Recently Released Brookings Report on Indian Boarding Schools
Navajo Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley Visits Navajo Veteran’s homesite
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
Right now, your support goes twice as far. Thanks to a generous $35,000 matching fund, every dollar you give during December 2024 will be doubled to protect sovereignty and amplify Native voices.
No paywalls. No corporate owners. Just independent, Indigenous journalism.
