PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Renee Strong, 55, of Springfield has been indicted on 26 total felony counts alleging that falsified health inspections on businesses from February to June. Strong is accused of forging the names of business owners on health inspection forms and then submitting those false inspections to the South Dakota Department of Health.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said inspectors such as Strong are paid for their inspections but did not specify details for the alleged motivation. The charges come because of whistleblower protected by state law, Jackley said.
The 26 counts are broken into 13 counts of offering false or forged instruments for filing or recording in a public office and 13 counts of forgery. Jackley did not share a dollar amount for the alleged false food inspections.
Jackley said there are more alleged incidents involving Strong, but the charges and potential sentence of 91 years is adequate.
Strong had worked as an inspector for about a year, Jackley said. She was an employee of the Department of Public Safety hired to do inspections for the DOH.
Jackley said five specific businesses cooperated with the AG’s office.