A 49‑year‑old Pierre woman pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony count of grand theft after prosecutors said she siphoned more than $588,000 in federal and state Medicaid funds while operating a local home‑health business.
Guilty plea and restitution
In Hughes County Circuit Court, Sharon Laraye Monson admitted guilt in the case tied to the former At Home Nursing in Pierre. As part of a plea agreement announced July 9, she agreed to repay $500,000 in restitution to the South Dakota Department of Social Services. Her sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 25, when she faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the single felony count.
Allegations and earlier indictment
State investigators say the alleged improper billing and related conduct occurred from May 1, 2018, through Jan. 1, 2024. Earlier this year Monson was indicted on multiple felony counts, including allegations of unlawfully obtaining medical assistance payments, aggravated grand theft, perjury to obtain state benefits and failure to keep necessary records. If convicted on all original counts, prosecutors noted the combined maximum exposure could total decades behind bars.
"[Taking] advantage of people who needed this type of service, and who relied on Medicaid to pay for it,"
The Attorney General's office, which investigated and prosecuted the matter through its Medicaid Fraud, Abuse and Neglect Services Unit, emphasized the impact of such cases on vulnerable clients and on the program that serves them.
- Timeframe of alleged conduct: May 1, 2018 – Jan. 1, 2024
- Alleged total improperly obtained: $588,000+
- Restitution agreed: $500,000
- Next court date: Aug. 25 (sentencing)
Federal funding note
The Attorney General’s release included a federal funding disclosure under the Stevens Amendment: the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the remaining 25% provided by the state for federal fiscal year 2026.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alleged take | $588,000+ |
| Restitution | $500,000 |
| Charge pleaded | Grand theft (felony) |
| Sentencing date | Aug. 25 |
Cases that target Medicaid dollars carry broader consequences for the state. Fraud diminishes resources available for care and can erode trust among recipients who depend on in‑home services. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud, Abuse and Neglect Services Unit handles investigations and prosecutions of such matters across South Dakota.
Monson’s plea narrows the charges to a single felony count under the agreement. The criminal case remains an example of the state’s continued scrutiny of providers billing Medicaid and the legal and financial remedies pursued when irregularities arise.
Local recipients of home‑health services and providers should note that enforcement efforts can include audits, criminal charges and civil restitution demands when investigators uncover evidence of improper billing or recordkeeping. Further court filings and the Aug. 25 sentencing will provide additional details about the offense and the state’s resolution.
