A former official of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has been sentenced for stealing from the tribe. Steven Thomas, 39, of Mashantucket, was ordered to pay restitution of $177,603.69 for his crimes.
Thomas, who served as the Assistant Director of the Office of Natural Resources Protection, submitted false weekly time cards to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, claiming to have worked 40 hours a week when in reality he rarely reported to work or performed any work. For his scheme, Thomas was paid approximately $177,603.69 by the tribe.
According to court documents, Thomas’ scheme took place between January 2007 and January 2008. He was required to submit his time cards on a weekly basis, but instead submitted false cards claiming to have worked a full week. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation was deceived into paying Thomas for his supposed work.
On October 3, 2013, Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of theft from an Indian tribal government. In advance of his guilty plea, Thomas resigned his position as Treasurer of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council.
Thomas was sentenced to one day of imprisonment, time already served, and was ordered to serve two years of supervised release, with the first three months to be served in home confinement. The former tribal official will also have to pay restitution of $177,603.69.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Interior – Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Mattei and Douglas P. Morabito.
U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly announced the sentencing, stating that Thomas’ actions were unacceptable and that he had betrayed the trust of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in public service.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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