Waubay woman going to prison for stealing from Indian Tribe

ABERDEEN, S.D.–A Waubay woman convicted of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization and Aiding and Abetting has been sentenced.

Forty six year-old Kayline LaBelle will spend five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $203,000 restitution.

According to court documents, between 2018 and 2022, LaBelle and others embezzled more than $150,000 belonging to the Buffalo Lake District of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe. LaBelle was aided and abetted by Elaine King, Duane LaBelle, Jr., Jacenta Varns, and Shayline Max.

LaBelle was the elected treasurer of the Buffalo Lake District and stole checks from the tribal organization. LaBelle then cashed those stolen checks at various vendors, businesses, and casinos, and she also distributed those stolen checks to her co-defendants.

LaBelle will have to surrender on December 26th to begin serving her sentence.