Three Individuals Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Money from Accounts Managed by the Department of the Interior Bureau of Trust Funds Administration

Bismarck - United States Attorney Nichoas W. Chase announced that on June 16, 2026, Ranita Lynn Freeman, Age 32, Minot, North Dakota (and a member of the MHA Nation), appeared in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced before Judge Daniel L. Hovland to serve 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $51,500 in restitution, for the offenses of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identify Theft.

Between 2020 and 2023, Freeman stole $51,500 from two MHA Nation tribal members' Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) manages the financial assets of American Indians held in trust by the Department of the Interior and an IIM account is an interest-bearing account managed by the BTFA on behalf of an individual who has money or other assets held in trust for them by the Federal government. Between August 2020 and January 2021, Freeman stole $42,000 from one tribal member's IIM account and, again between January and April 2023, she stole $9,500 from a second tribal member's IIM account. Throughout these two separate schemes, Freeman placed multiple calls to the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, where she fraudulently pretended to be these tribal members. During these calls, Freeman provided the BTFA with the names, dates of birth, and other identifying information of the tribal members to access, and obtain money from, their respective IIM accounts. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General special agents identified Freeman as the caller when she called into the BTFA posing as one of these tribal members and they compared the caller's voice to Freeman's voice.

Additional Individuals Sentenced in a Separate BTFA IIM Fraud Scheme:

Between November and December 2022, Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin and Samantha Lynn Rebold stole $11,695.92 from an MHA Nation tribal members' IIM account. To accomplish this theft, Rebold took photographs of the tribal member's personal identifying information, including his social security card and tribal identification card. Thereafter, Rebold provided these photographs to co-defendant Martin who then called the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, pretended to be the MHA Nation tribal member and fraudulently requested that the BTFA send two monetary disbursements from this individual's IIM account-in the amounts of $1,510.40 and $10,185.52-to a bank account that he controlled. Thereafter, Martin and Rebold spent the money that they fraudulently obtained from this tribal member's IIM account. When Martin called the BTFA, he falsely used the MHA Nation tribal member's name, date of birth, social security number, and tribal identification number to obtain money from this IIM account.

Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin: Age: 39. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on October 21, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to 24 months' imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Aggravated Identity Theft.

Samantha Lynn Rebold: Age: 38. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on June 18, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to time served (7 days), three years of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Wire Fraud.

"Fraud is especially sinister because it hurts victims in many ways", said US Attorney Nicholas W. Case. "As this case shows, when criminals steal money through fraud schemes, they often steal something even more personal, the identities of innocent people whose names, financial accounts, and personal information are exploited for criminal gain. Prosecuting fraud and identity theft offenses remains one of the highest priorities of this office because these crimes can cause lasting financial and emotional harm to victims. Today's sentence reflects our commitment to holding fraudsters accountable and protecting the public from those who seek to profit through deception and the misuse of others' personal information."

"These sentences should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to exploit vulnerable account holders by stealing funds that are intended to support thousands of Native Americans and their communities. These funds, held in trust, are vital to the many individuals who rely on them as their sole source of income," said Special Agent in Charge Jamie DePaepe. "We will continue working with the BTFA and our prosecutorial partners to protect account holders and hold those responsible fully accountable."

This case was investigated by the Department of the Interior - Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O'Konek, District of North Dakota.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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