New Jersey man sentenced for defrauding Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe

October 6, 2020
Mike Tanner

PIERRE, S.D.—The South Dakota U.S. Attorney’s office says a New Jersey man has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised release for fraud against the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe.

U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons says the tribe mailed a check for just under $150,000 to 60 year-old Mark Johnson of Mays Landing, New Jersey for refurbished lawn maintenance equipment in March 2014. 

Johnson was doing business as Atlantic Power and Equipment LLC. 

Johnson cashed the check, but the lawn care equipment was never delivered to the tribe, nor did Johnson refund any of the money.

Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2019.

He was ordered to pay restitution to the tribe, and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.