HURON, S.D.(WNAX)- Members of the Steffensen family, former owners of H & I Grain were sentenced in Beadle County Circuit Court last week following their convictions on fraud charges. Jared and Tami Steffenson, along with Jared’s mother JoAnn were charged with defrauding a number of producers who sold grain to them.

The case was initially pursued by the Public Utilities Commission. Chairman Chris Nelson called it a tragedy.

Nelson says there are some lessons in the case.

Nelson says he believes state law is adequate to handle these type of fraud cases.

Jared and Tami Steffenson were sentenced to five years in prison, JoAnn Steffenson was sentenced to probation, and all are required to pay back a total of nearly five million dollars.