SD Man Gets 8 Months House Arrest For Wire Fraud

An Aberdeen man convicted of lying so that his cattle could graze on Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation land has been sentenced in federal court to eight months of home confinement and 18 months of probation.

United States Attorney Brendan Johnson says that 48-year-old Allen Dunlavy lied and said his non-Indian owned cattle were owned by a tribal member to get grazing privileges. Dunlavy was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Roberto Lange.

Officials say that the lie allowed Dunlavy and others to avoid paying the $6 per head, per month, grazing fee charged for non-Indian owned cattle. Dunlavy is ordered to pay more than $21,000 in restitution to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe as compensation for his role in the scheme.