GREAT FALLS, MT – Four members of the Lambert family are trading their Montana home for federal prison cells after being sentenced for a calculated scheme to siphon over $130,000 from the Town of Brockton, located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The case, a part of an ongoing probe into public corruption tied to the Guardians Project, reveals a pattern of brazen financial misconduct by the family.
On March 5, 2015, U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris handed down the sentences following indictments in August 2014 for wire fraud, public corruption, and aggravated identity theft. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon laid out the details: Desiree Lambert, 59, the former Business Manager for Brockton, orchestrated the theft. She allegedly penned illegitimate checks to herself, her husband Bernard Lambert, 66, and their daughters, Kaycee Lambert, 35, and Kayla Lambert, 30, while fraudulently signing the Brockton Mayor’s name. Over roughly eighteen months, the Lamberts pocketed $132,563, admitting to spending it on gambling and everyday expenses.
But this wasn’t their first rodeo. Weldon pointed to a prior conviction, revealing that Bernard and Desiree Lambert previously embezzled $12,000 from the Department of Education in 2006 while holding positions within the Brockton School District and the Fort Peck Department of Education. Desiree authorized payments to Bernard for allegedly writing grant applications that never materialized. Both served a year in federal prison for that offense, only to be released in 2011 and, according to the prosecution, immediately return to their criminal ways. “Undeterred, this time the Lamberts regrouped and increased their criminal efforts with more vigor,” Weldon told the court. “They embezzled $132,563.95—many times more than that of the first conviction. Worse yet, they used their children to move money and feed their gambling addictions.”
Judge Morris clearly agreed, delivering the harshest sentence to Desiree Lambert – 44 months in prison, along with three years of supervised release and a requirement to repay the full $132,563.95. Bernard Lambert received 20 months of imprisonment and the same stipulations for supervised release and restitution. The judge specifically cited Desiree’s abuse of her position as a factor in the increased sentence. The daughters, complicit in cashing the fraudulent checks, received lighter sentences: Kayla Lambert was sentenced to 5 months in prison, with 5 months of home confinement during her two-year supervised release, and ordered to pay $93,656.00 in restitution. Kaycee Lambert received 6 months in prison, 6 months of home confinement during her two-year supervised release.
The sentences send a clear message: exploiting public funds, especially when it involves a repeat offense and the manipulation of family members, will not be tolerated. The Guardians Project probe continues, raising questions about the extent of public corruption within the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and the oversight of federally funded programs. The Lamberts’ actions represent a significant breach of public trust and a callous disregard for the community they were supposed to serve.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as the Guardians Project investigation unfolds. This isn’t just about stolen money; it’s about a systematic erosion of faith in public institutions and the individuals who are entrusted with safeguarding them. The Lambert family’s legacy in Brockton will undoubtedly be one of betrayal and financial ruin, a stark warning to others who might consider following in their footsteps.
Related Federal Cases
- Nevada Man Sentenced for Truck Heist, Guns & Homemade Bombs · Washington
- $700K Caregiver Heist: Billings Woman Sentenced to 4.5 Years · Montana
- NY Attorney General Sues to Block ACA Rule Change · New York
- Albany Cocaine Dealer Luke Gets 12-Year Sentence · Georgia
- Montana Fraud & Sex Offender Crackdown · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
