Source: United States Department of Justice News
SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Watertown, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for 13 counts of Wire Fraud.
Reva Plunkett, age 36, was indicted in October of 2022. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 20, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and up to $1,300 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about January 2015 and continuing through February 2022, Reva Plunkett, who was the bookkeeper for Doug’s Anchor Marine, Inc., and for Brotherhood Arms, businesses located in Watertown, South Dakota, devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money and property from others by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
In Plunkett’s capacity as bookkeeper for each business, she was responsible for managing and reconciling various business accounts. Plunkett’s duties included writing checks to pay for business expenses, such as payroll and vendor payments.
On multiple occasions during the relevant time periods, Plunkett falsely and fraudulently wrote checks payable to herself that were drawn on business accounts belonging to Doug’s Anchor Marine, Inc. and Brotherhood Arms. These checks were not for her wages or salary, nor were they for any other legitimate purpose. Plunkett also deposited the checks into her account and used the funds for her own purposes. Plunkett disguised her theft by falsely and fraudulently recording in the businesses’ accounting system that the checks were payable to vendors, which made the checks appear to be legitimate business expenses. She also falsely and fraudulently adjusted the business inventory to make it appear that the money was actually spent on products for the businesses.
The charges are merely accusations and Plunkett is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case.
Plunkett was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.