Former General Council Deputy Advocate Wendy L. Running Horse, 39, has been charged with one Criminal Complaint in the Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court.  She is accused of knowingly and without authorization access the Ho-Chunk Nation Payroll System and modifying payroll data by entering and approving personal work hours using the login credentials of a deceased Tribal Employee.

     According to the criminal complaint, Ho-Chunk Nation Police Chief Earl L. Lemieux II, Detective Brose of the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, and several Ho-Chunk Nation employees were in attendance on August 12, 2019, during an interview with Running Horse at the General Council building near Tomah, Wisc.

     At the time of the August 12 interview, Wendy Running Horse’s title with the Ho-Chunk Nation was General Council Deputy Advocate.  Her former supervisor was Joy Thompson.  Thompson passed away on June 27, 2019.

     The interview centered on Running Horse’s use of the Nation’s payroll system.  When asked if she ever used Thompson’s user ID and password with the Nation’s payroll system, Wendy Running Horse answered in the affirmative.  When asked if she used Thompson’s login credentials to approve her overtime for July 1, 2019, after Thompson’s passing, Running Horse said yes.

     Chief Earl L. Lemieux II activated his body camera before the meeting and recorded audio and video of the discussion.  A subsequent investigation took place. 

     The Nation’s Compliance Division obtained an email in which Running Horse reminds Thompson of the password used to access the payroll system.  Login data was requested from the Ho-Chunk Nation’s Information Technology Department and reviewed.  That data reveals Thompson’s login credentials were used in the payroll system on July 1, 2019, to enter work hours, lock timecards, and authorize the use of annual leave for Running Horse.

     If convicted of this Class A Misdemeanor, Running Horse may be fined not more than $5,000.00 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.