Former Tribal IT Director Sentenced in Federal Court for Roles in Bribery Scheme

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Florida man convicted of Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, was sentenced on September 12, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Sven Schreiber, age 54, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and a $15,000 fine.  He was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Schreiber was indicted for Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds by a federal grand jury in May of 2021.  Schreiber pled guilty on May 23, 2022.  

Schreiber’s co-defendant, Arnaldo Piccinelli, was also charged, and he pled guilty to Embezzlement from an Indian Tribal Organization on May 19, 2022.  Piccinelli was sentenced to two years of probation.

According to court documents, in or around December 2015, Schreiber became the Director of the Information Technology Department of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  Schreiber’s duties included serving as the Tribe’s primary contact with outside vendors and generating bids, contracts, and agreements relating to the work of the Tribe’s Information Technology Department. 

On behalf of the Tribe, Schreiber contracted with Piccinelli to provide information technology services on a contract basis with the Tribe.  Schreiber served as Piccinelli’s point of contact regarding all of the contracts with the Tribe.  The Tribe paid Piccinelli or his company, Hexagon Code, Incorporated, at the direction of Schreiber.  At some time after Piccinelli entered into the contract, Schreiber solicited Defendant Piccinelli for money.  As a result, Defendant Schreiber received cash payments of approximately $15,000.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.

Schreiber must self-report to the institution designated or the U.S. Marshals Office by 2:00pm on November 15, 2022.

This case was brought pursuant to the Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities.  Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: the FBI; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.

For additional information about the Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400.  To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.