Marshall J. Cheromiah, 32, of Mesita, N.M., admitted in federal court today to stealing $48,953.47 from the Laguna Pueblo Superette, where he served as supervisor. The theft occurred over a 15-month span, from July 2013 to October 2014, as Cheromiah exploited his role overseeing ATM operations and cash deliveries.
Cheromiah pled guilty in Albuquerque to a federal embezzlement charge stemming from an indictment filed November 5, 2015. Prosecutors say the crime unfolded in Cibola County, where the Superette—owned by the Laguna Development Corporation and the Pueblo of Laguna—trusted Cheromiah with access to tens of thousands in cash shipments from the Bank of Albuquerque.
According to his plea agreement, Cheromiah skimmed $10,000 to $20,000 each time cash was delivered for the ATM. He admitted to pocketing the money systematically, using stolen funds to gamble, cover loans for friends, and finance a pleasure trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. The thefts continued unchecked until internal inconsistencies raised red flags.
The scheme targeted tribal funds, placing the crime under federal jurisdiction due to Cheromiah’s status as an employee of an Indian Tribal Organization. His actions breached not only company policy but federal law, exposing vulnerabilities in how tribal enterprises manage internal financial oversight.
At sentencing, Cheromiah faces up to five years in federal prison and must pay $21,758 in restitution. No date has been set for the hearing, but the financial and legal reckoning looms as a warning to others in positions of fiscal trust within tribal and public enterprises.
The case was jointly investigated by the FBI’s Albuquerque office and the Laguna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers is handling prosecution, underscoring the federal crackdown on corruption targeting tribal resources and community-owned enterprises.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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