Marshall J Cheromiah, Embezzlement, NM 2013-2014

ALBUQUERQUE – In a hard-hitting judgment, former supervisor Marshall J. Cheromiah has been sentenced to three months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $49,000 from the Laguna Pueblo Superette.

The 32-year-old from Mesita, N.M., was charged with siphoning funds between July 2013 and October 2014 while employed at the Laguna Pueblo Superette, which is jointly owned by the Laguna Development Corporation and the Pueblo of Laguna.

Cheromiah admitted to using his authority over the ATM operations to divert up to $20,000 in cash deliveries for personal gain, funding a gambling habit, settling debts, and enjoying a trip to Las Vegas. His guilty plea on February 7, 2017, marked the end of his criminal saga.

The Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Laguna Police Department conducted an intensive investigation that led to Cheromiah’s conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers handled the prosecution with relentless determination.

Today’s sentence also includes a substantial $21,758 restitution order and a mandatory 40 hours of community service. Cheromiah will now serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

The Laguna Pueblo Superette, a vital community resource, has been hit hard by this crime. The sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for those who betray the trust of their communities.