A Martin man is charged with stealing from a program designed to improve the economy on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Patrick Beem, 39, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court to embezzlement and theft from a tribal organization.
Federal court documents show he is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of property belonging to the Oglala Oyate Woitancan Empowerment Zone. The Empowerment Zone is federally-funded economic development organization that has operated on the reservation for about 10 years.
Beem is accused of trading in construction equipment that belonged to the Empowerment Zone for a semi-truck that was in his own name. The alleged incident happened between Sept. 16, 2004, and Sept. 15, 2005, in Black Hawk.
If convicted Beem could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
