Former Public Utilities Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft

BISMARCK—Acting United States Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced that on May 4, 2010, Nancy Laducer, 45, of Dunseith, North Dakota, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland to a charge of theft from an Indian tribal organization.

Laducer was employed with the Belcourt Public Utilities Commission (BPUC), an entity of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. As the secretary and bookkeeper, Laducer was responsible for all finances for BPUC. When management officials became suspicious about missing money, a forensic audit was conducted, which revealed a shortage of deposits totaling $244,618.85. Laducer admitted to allowing other employees to write personal checks and take money from BPUC, with the intent to pay the money back before the checks were deposited. Eventually, Laducer stopped depositing the checks and the money was never paid back. Laducer also admitted that she wrote personal checks to BPUC, received money, and then never deposited her checks in a BPUC account and never paid back the money. Laducer was employed with BPUC for 23 years before her termination.

The charge of theft from an Indian tribal organization carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Minot Police Department.

Sentencing for Laducer has been scheduled for August 16, 2010, in United States District Court in Minot, North Dakota, at 11:00 a.m.

Assistant United States Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell is prosecuting the case.