Co-Conspirator Admits Role in Theft from Coeur d’Alene Tribe

COEUR D'ALENE—Billy E. Moffitt, 26, of Lewiston and Plummer, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to conspiracy to commit theft from a tribal organization, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. A federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene returned a two-count indictment on May 21, 2013, charging Moffitt and Angeline Morago George, 36, of Plummer and Portland, Oregon, with conspiracy to commit theft and theft from a tribal organization.

According to the plea agreement, Angeline George was employed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Housing Authority and was issued a credit card related to her duties. Between February 2 and February 23, 2013, Moffitt and George drove from the Coeur d’Alene reservation to Spokane, Washington, where George purchased $4,175.26 in money orders from local Money Tree stores. George or Moffitt would then cash the money orders and use the cash for their personal use and benefit. As part of his agreement with prosecutors, Moffitt agreed to pay restitution to the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Housing Authority.

The charge of conspiracy to commit theft from a tribal organization is punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

Moffitt is set for sentencing on November 5, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

Co-defendant Angeline George is scheduled to plead guilty on August 30.

The case was investigated by Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.