Used Tribal Credit Card to Purchase Items for Personal Use
U.S. Attorney’s Office September 10, 2015
A former Fish and Game Enforcement Officer for the Swinomish Tribe was charged last week in U.S. District Court with nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of theft of tribal funds for his scheme to steal Tribal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. ROBERT SCOTT MILLER, 44, of La Conner, Washington, was a Swinomish Fish and Game Enforcement Officer for eighteen years. According to the criminal complaint, between 2012 and 2015 MILLER made multiple purchases with a Tribal credit card and kept the items he purchased for his own personal use. MILLER made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle last week.
According to records filed in the case, MILLER purchased items for his boat using the Tribal credit card. The purchases included various boat parts including a fuel pump, fuel gauge, waterproof Bose speakers, hatches, cleats and fuel for the boat. MILLER also allegedly purchased a chain saw, rifle bags, lighting and a shop vac using Tribal funds. The items were for his personal use and were not approved purchases for the Swinomish Tribe. The purchases total more than $4200.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Theft of Tribal funds is punishable by up to one year in prison.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
MILLER is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the charges on September 17, 2015.
The case was investigated by the Swinomish Police Department and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ye-Ting Woo.
