LOCAL NEWS
SOUTH DAKOTA WOMAN EMBEZZLEMENT TRIAL BEGINS
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oct 24, 2007, 06:05

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - The embezzlement trial of a former
Oglala Sioux tribal official has begun at Rapid City.

Eileen Janis (juh-NEES') faces a charge of stealing more than $22,000 from the tribe in 2004.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mara Kohn says Janis became involved in a "financial snowball" after she started using cash advances available to tribal employees.

Kohn says tribal employees are allowed to take payroll advances -- which Janis did -- but then got out of control with her spending.

Janis' lawyer says she intends to repay the funds -- adding that it's not a crime to owe the tribe money.

The defense attorney says Janis didn't get a chance to repay the $22,000 because she was fired.

Janis faces up to 5 years in prison, if convicted.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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