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Press Release

Former Supervisor at the Laguna Pueblo Superette Sentenced for Federal Embezzlement Conviction

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Marshall J. Cheromiah, the former supervisor at the Laguna Pueblo Superette, was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to three months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling funds belonging to the Pueblo of Laguna. Cheromiah was also ordered to pay $21,758 in restitution to the Laguna Development Corporation and to perform 40 hours of community service.

 

Cheromiah, 32, of Mesita, N.M., was charged in an indictment filed on Nov. 5, 2015, with embezzling approximately $48,953.47 from the Pueblo of Laguna. According to the indictment, Cheromiah was working as an employee or agent of an Indian Tribal Organization when he committed the crime between July 2013 and Oct. 2014, in Cibola County, N.M.

 

On Feb. 7, 2017, Cheromiah pled guilty to the indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Cheromiah acknowledged that from July 2013 through Oct. 2014, he was employed as a supervisor at the Laguna Pueblo Superette, which is owned by the Laguna Development Corporation and the Pueblo of Laguna. Cheromiah admitted that while he was employed at the Laguna Pueblo Superette, he embezzled approximately $48,953.47 belonging to the Pueblo of Laguna.

 

Court filings indicate that Cheromiah was responsible for supervising the operation of the ATM machine and ordering cash deliveries from the Bank of Albuquerque for stocking the ATM with cash. In his plea agreement, Cheromiah admitted that, when the Bank delivered cash for the ATM, he would skim or siphon approximately $10,000 or $20,000 for himself, which he used for gambling, paying off loans for friends, and a pleasure trip to Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Laguna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers prosecuted the case.

Updated May 23, 2017

Topic
Indian Country Law and Justice