Kaylene Shane Red Wolf, Theft from Local Government, Montana 2013

Grimy Times Exclusive: Kaylene Shane Red Wolf Pleads Guilty to Theft from Local Government in Montana

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on September 12, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, Kaylene Shane Red Wolf, a 44-year-old resident of Hardin, pled guilty to theft from local government receiving federal funding.

Red Wolf, who was a Payroll Clerk for the Lodge Grass Public Schools (LGPS) from October 2011 to her resignation on September 11, 2012, executed a double salary scheme whereby she would issue herself a partial pay check even though she also arranged payment to herself through direct deposit for the same hours worked. She doubled her pay for those hours on five separate occasions between June 20, 2012, and August 15, 2012.

The loss to the Lodge Grass Public Schools was $10,002.60, although Red Wolf terminated the interview before some of the questioned payments were discussed. The United States and Red Wolf will endeavor to reach an understanding about the total amount of loss well before sentencing.

Red Wolf faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Sentencing has been set for January 1, 2014. She is currently released on special conditions.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Interior – Office of Inspector General.

Red Wolf, who admitted to the scheme, said she intended to repay the unauthorized funds she received while employed as the Payroll Clerk for the LGPS, but that she had not made any repayments due to other financial difficulties she was experiencing.

Related Federal Cases