A 67 year old woman from Sioux Falls woman has been indicted on one count of Grand Theft for taking unauthorized control of monies owned by 16 different victims that had a combined value of between $100,000 and $500,000.
A Codington County Grand Jury indicted Margaret Jean Spears-Pederson on May 22nd for an alleged theft that occurred in Codington County between Jan. 1, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2025.
“The defendant is alleged to have violated the victims’ trust,” said Attorney General Marty Jackley. “This is a good reminder for consumers to do due diligence when agreeing to pay for services. Make sure everything is in writing upfront before you provide payment.”
Spears-Pederson made her initial court appearance on Wednesday. Bond has been set at $50,000 cash surety.
If convicted, Spears-Pederson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The South Dakota Consumer Protection Division, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and Watertown Police Department were involved in the investigation. The Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case.