Willard Wilson White III, Wire Fraud, Montana 2024

GREAT FALLS, MT – A former Fort Peck Tribes law enforcement officer has confessed to a callous betrayal of public trust, admitting to stealing $40,000 intended for at-risk youth and then attempting to cover his tracks with brazen tax evasion. Willard Wilson White, III, 43, of Glasgow, pleaded guilty Monday to charges of wire fraud and income tax evasion, a stunning fall from grace for a man once sworn to uphold the law.

According to court records, White pitched a seemingly noble plan to the tribe’s Law and Justice Committee in June 2015: a “Family Justice Center” designed to support youth separated from their families due to incarceration. He requested $40,000 to launch the program, even promoting the initiative on Facebook, painting a picture of selfless service. The reality, as prosecutors revealed, was far more sinister. Within 30 days, the money was gone, and no services were ever provided to the Fort Peck Tribes.

The trail of White’s deceit is littered with evidence of blatant self-enrichment. Bank records show a paltry $32.39 in his account before the tribe’s check cleared. Immediately after the deposit, White made a beeline for Williston, North Dakota, and blew $305 at Whisper’s, a local strip club. The spending spree continued with retail purchases and the acquisition of a Jeep. He also withdrew over $11,000 in cash in a mere three weeks, all while tribal members watched his lavish displays on social media and repeatedly demanded the return of the unspent funds – demands he ignored.

But the theft was only half the story. White compounded his crimes by failing to report the $40,000 in tribal funds on his 2015 tax return. He further attempted to defraud the IRS by falsely claiming dependents, submitting six rejected tax returns before finally succeeding in securing a $5,860 refund using an unclaimed child’s Social Security number. This elaborate scheme allowed him to avoid paying federal taxes while pocketing illicit gains, ultimately leaving him owing the IRS a total of $10,184.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris has scheduled White’s sentencing for September 25, continuing his release until that date. He now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Weldon and Karla Painter successfully prosecuted the case, a joint investigation conducted by the Fort Peck Tribes and the Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General.

This case stands as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of tribal communities to exploitation and the importance of rigorous oversight. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of Willard Wilson White, III, ensuring that justice is served for the Fort Peck Tribes.

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