Grazing Fraud Lands South Dakota Woman 5 Years Probation

The former wife of a man who got 46 months in prison for grazing fraud, will serve five years probation for her involvement.

Amanda Holy Bull from Sisseton, S.D., the ex-wife of Keith Hagen was sentenced on Oct. 30 after admitting to a federal felony charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

In 2007, Hagen and Holy Bull created Holy Bull Cattle Co. where they offered custom grazing through land leased from the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation.

From 2012-14 the couple conducted fraudulent activity by offering grazing for land they did not have leased.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Hoffman, both Hagen and Holy Bull were paid in advance for their grazing services. Some customers were able to graze for part of a season.

In one instance Hagen had rented just 40 acres in 2014, which was only enough to graze six cow-calf pairs. That year Hagen entered contracts for 300 cow-calf pairs.

Hagen went through court and was found guilty on eight counts of fraud by a federal jury on June 28. He was sentenced by a federal court in Aberdeen on Oct. 16. Hagen will serve 46 months in prison.

Holy Bull received a lighter sentence of probation after accepting a plea deal.

Both Holy Bull and Hagen are jointly responsible for $236,000 in restitution. She still has $100 to pay for a special assessment. Hagen has $800 to pay for a special assessment.