PIERRE, S.D. – The Office of the South Dakota Attorney General announced today that 69-
year old JoAnn Steffenson, 40-year old Jared Steffensen, and 36-year old Tami Steffensen
were all sentenced and remanded to the custody of the Beadle County Sheriff on Friday,
September 17, 2021.
Circuit Judge Kent A. Shelton handed out a maximum five-year sentence in the South Dakota
State Penitentiary to both Jared and Tami Steffensen, and a 2-year suspended sentence to
JoAnn Steffensen on the condition that she serve 120 days in county jail. In addition, all
three are jointly and severally liable for restitution to the victims in the amount of
$4,966,491.80.
On June 29, 2021, as part of a plea bargain, Jared Steffensen plead guilty to one count of
Theft by Deception, a Class 5 Felony, Tami Steffensen plead guilty to one count of Theft by
Deception, a Class 5 Felony, and JoAnn Steffensen plead guilty to one count of Failure to
Notify the PUC of Insolvency, a Class 6 Felony.
“It is good to see a favorable conclusion for the community after all the hardship the victims
have faced in the aftermath of this complex financial crime,” said Ravnsborg. “I want to thank
our prosecutors, along with the investigators from both the Division of Criminal Investigation
and local law enforcement for all the hard work at arriving at this successful resolution.”