A Sisseton man will spend time in federal prison for his involvement in a scheme which involved advertising cattle grazing services without having land available.
Forty-nine-year-old Keith Hagen was sentenced Monday to 46 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay $236,000 in restitution.
In June, Hagen was found guilty of one count of Conspiracy to commit mail or wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud and four counts of mail fraud.
Hagan’s wife, Amanda Holy Bear, age 33, was also indicted in the case in 2016.
Court documents indicate the couple offered custom grazing cattle services through the Holy Bull Cattle Company, which they created in 2007. The land, which was located in Marshall County was leased through the Sisseton agency of the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota revealed that fraudulent activity occurred in 2012, 2013, and 2014. During that time, cattle producers made advance payments to Hagan for pasture land which was reported as being available for grazing. Some of those producers were able to use the land for a short time while others did not even get an opportunity.
