Waubay woman sentenced on federal embezzlement charge

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- A Waubay woman has been sentenced to 27 months in prison on a federal charge of program theft, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Dawn Block, 53, will also be on supervised release for three years and must pay $222,802 in restitution. Of that, $68,570 is owed to the U.S. Department of Labor and $154,232 is owed to the governing entities that formerly comprised the United Sioux Tribes of South Dakota Development Corp.

According to court documents, Block was the acting executive director for the United Sioux Tribes of South Dakota Development Corp. after the previous executive director was charged in the theft of funds. She worked for the agency from October 2018 to May 2019. During that time, Block was accused of taking payroll advances, cash withdrawals, awards and bonuses, duplicate pay and unsupported payments, per the release.

Block is to begin her sentence on May 18.