Former Finance Director Of Alaska Inter-Tribal Council Sentenced In Federal Court For Theft Of Funds

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that the former Finance Director of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council (“AITC”), a non-profit organization which advocates in support of tribal governments throughout Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to five years of probation, with a requirement that he serve 120 days of community confinement, for his theft of funds belonging to the organization.  Thomas R. Purcell, 52, of Anchorage, who served as the Finance Director of AITC from January 2008 until February 2009, admitted to stealing or misappropriating approximately $22,270 in AITC funds while he served in that capacity.  Purcell was also ordered to pay $22,270 to AITC in restitution, and was fined an additional $15,000 by United States District Judge Sharon L. Gleason. 

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Bottini, AITC received substantial federal funding in 2008 and 2009 – including a federal grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency of in excess of a million dollars.  As the Finance Director, Purcell was responsible for managing all of AITC=s financial accounts, including account reconciliation, and payroll operations.  The investigation established that Purcell was able to steal the funds through an unauthorized salary increase.

Purcell was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2013 together with co-defendant Steven Osborne, the former Executive Director of AITC.   Purcell pled guilty in April 2015 to one count of Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds.  Osborne also pled guilty to one count of stealing approximately $145,000 from AITC, and on October 22, 2015, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison by United States District Judge Sharon L. Gleason.  Purcell, who had cooperated with the government during the investigation and subsequent prosecution, received a reduced sentence in recognition of his cooperation. 

Two individuals associated with AITC addressed the court at Purcell’s sentencing and noted that as a result of the thefts committed by Osborne and Purcell, AITC became ineligible for further federal funding because the organization was considered “high risk”.  Without federal funding, AITC was basically rendered a defunct organization, and it remains so today.

Ms. Loeffler commends the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation of this case.