Former employee admits theft from Tribe

COEUR d'ALENE - Angeline Morago George, 36, Plummer, pleaded guilty Aug. 30 in federal court to conspiracy to commit theft from a tribal organization, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

George and co-conspirator Billy E. Moffitt, 26, Plummer, were charged in a federal indictment on May 21. Moffitt pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 20.

According to the plea agreement, George was employed by the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Housing Authority and was issued a credit card related to her duties. Between Feb. 2 and Feb. 23, George and Moffitt drove from the Coeur d'Alene Reservation to Spokane, 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 their agreement with prosecutors, George and Moffitt agreed to pay restitution to the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Housing Authority.

The defendants each face up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

George is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 3 and Moffitt on Nov. 5 before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

"Those who are entrusted with public funds have a solemn obligation to act in the public interest," Olson said. "Ms. George violated the trust placed in her by the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Housing Authority, by putting personal gain ahead of her public obligation. Appropriately, Ms. George and her co-conspirator, Mr. Moffitt, will reimburse the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for the money they stole. I commend the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police and the FBI for their thorough investigation of this case."