SCOUTING REPORT | Indian Country lawsuit, Pierre cracks the hydrants, running for grief, Japanese bear attacks

A weekly digest of interesting local, state, national and even international developments

South Dakota-based G.F. Buche Co. has been operating grocery stores in Indian Country for nearly 120 years. In 2021, the company signed a deal with Simple Automated Money Inc. (SAM), an Ohio company, to lease four automated check cashing machines for its stores in Oacoma, Winner, Wanblee and Mission. For a small service fee, Buche customers could cash their checks, money they could then spend at a Buche store.

Initially, the grocer paid a leasing fee to SAM for each machine, as well as 30 percent of the check cashing fee. Buche provided the cash for the machines, and SAM would deposit the checks into Buche’s bank account.

At some point, the agreement got modified. SAM would deposit the checks into its account, and then transfer the money to Buche’s account, including the entire cash checking fee. SAM would then invoice Buche for its share of the servicing fee, and Buche would pay SAM.

But according to a federal lawsuit filed by Buche, SAM has absconded with Buche’s money since April of this year.