Former state employee sentenced for forging food service inspections

Another person has been sentenced for a crime committed while working for the state of South Dakota.

Renee Strong, 55, of Springfield, was sentenced Tuesday in Hughes County circuit court to serve five years of probation, pay $2,000 in fines and $466 in court costs, and perform 40 hours of community service. She previously pleaded guilty to four forgery-related felony charges for falsifying food service inspections while she worked for the Department of Public Safety.

The sentencing judge suspended two years of prison time on each count, meaning Strong will stay out of prison if she abides by the terms of her sentence.

“This defendant jeopardized public health when she forged health inspection records,” said Attorney General Marty Jackley in a news release. “Her actions also harmed the reputation of those state employees who work hard and take pride in public service.”

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South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case, and the Attorney General’s Office prosecuted it.

The Strong case is among six criminal prosecutions Jackley has filed against former state employees since last year for allegations related to their work for state government.

One former employee, Lonna Carroll, used her position at the Department of Social Services to steal nearly $1.8 million over the course of 13 years. A jury found Carroll guilty of grand theft, and she’s scheduled to be sentenced in July. Other criminal allegations against state employees have included creating fake vehicle titles to avoid excise taxes, the use of foster family food vouchers for a state employee’s own expenses, and the alleged forging of a state employee’s own medical marijuana card.

In response to the run of prosecutions, Jackley supported a package of four bills passed during this year’s legislative session that will expand the investigatory authority of the state auditor; strengthen the Board of Internal Controls; institute mandatory reporting requirements for state employees and penalties for failing to report; and establish protections for whistleblowers.

Gov. Larry Rhoden signed an executive order in April mandating the creation of a “secure standard reporting mechanism” for employees. The portal will deliver whistleblower reports of malfeasance to the state’s auditor and attorney general.

Lawmakers also passed legislation this year strengthening the ability of the Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee to conduct investigations and issue orders known as subpoenas requiring people to testify or supply information.

Last year, then-Gov. Kristi Noem added an extra internal control officer position to the executive branch and ordered state employees to undergo annual training aimed at preventing criminal activity.