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Press Release

Nez Perce Man Pleads Guilty to Theft

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

COEUR D'ALENE - Daniel Wayne Winslow, 32, of Clarkston, Washington, pleaded guilty today to theft from a tribal organization, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Winslow was charged by the U.S. Attorney on October 29, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, Winslow admitted that he was a cashier at the Nez Perce Express, which is owned by the Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises, an organization of the Nez Perce Tribe, a federally recognized Indian Tribe.  During the defendant’s employment, he would sell cigarettes to customers and take cash in payment.  The defendant then used his cash register to void the sale and converted the money the customer paid for the cigarettes to his own use.  This practice of voiding the sales allowed the defendant to show a balanced cash drawer at the end of his shift.  An audit revealed the defendant has stolen approximately $199,000 of tribal funds over several years during his employment at the Nez Perce Express.

The charge of theft from a tribal organization is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for January 26, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nez Perce Tribal Police.

Today's announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud.  Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations.  Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants.

 

Updated March 31, 2022

Topic
Indian Country Law and Justice
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