July 9, 2026: A 49 year old Pierre woman has pleaded guilty to one felony count of Grand Theft after earlier being charged with defrauding the South Dakota Medicaid Program of more than $588,000 in federal and state funds. Sharon Laraye Monson entered the guilty plea Thursday (July 9, 2026) in Hughe s County Circuit Court. As part of a plea agreement, she has agreed to pay $500,000 in restitution to the South Dakota Department of Social Services. Monson stole the money when she was the owner of At Home Nursing in Pierre. The charges occurred from May 1, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2024. She faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when sentenced Aug. 25. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud, Abuse and Neglect Services Unit. This release is provided in compliance with the federal Stevens Amendment: The South Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling approximately $1,033,972 for Federal Fiscal Year 2026. The remaining 25%, totaling approximately $334,656 for Federal Fiscal Year 2026, was funded by the State of South Dakota.   May 2, 2025: A 48 year old woman from Pierre has been indicted on six felony counts of defrauding the South Dakota Medicaid Program of more than $588,000 in federal and state funds. Sharon Laraye Monson is accused of stealing the money as the owner of At Home Nursing in Pierre. She is charged with three counts of Unlawfully Obtaining Benefits or Payments from a Medical Assistance Program, and one count each of Aggravated Grand Theft, Perjury to Obtain State Benefits, and Failure to Keep Necessary Records Upon Which Medicaid Claim is Based. The violations are alleged to have occured from May 1, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2024. Monson faces a combined maximum prison or county jail sentence of 42 years, if found guilty of all six charges. Attorney General Marty Jackley says Monson is accused of “taking advantage of people who needed this type of service, and who relied on Medicaid to pay for it.” Monson has not yet had an initial court appearance. She is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution. This release is provided in compliance with the federal Stevens Amendment: The South Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling approximately $1,002,576 for Federal Fiscal Year 2025. The remaining 25%, totaling approximately $334,188 for Federal Fiscal Year 2025, was funded by the State of South Dakota. ...read more read less