FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	August 3, 2012
Docket #: 2:12-CR-00231 MCE

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Erika Michele Carlton, 38, of Roseville, pleaded guilty on
Thursday, August 2, 2012 to theft from an Indian tribal government, United States Attorney
Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Secret Service and the
Placer County Sheriff's Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon is
prosecuting the case.

According to court documents and admissions made in court, Carlton was a human
resources manager at Thunder Valley Resort and Casino in Rocklin. Thunder Valley is owned by
the United Auburn Indian Community, a federally recognized Indian tribe. Between November
12, 2006 and March 9, 2011, Carlton embezzled and stole up to $400,000 in money and
property from Thunder Valley. Carlton had access to Thunder Valley credit cards and other
sources of funds that she could use to buy items for the casino's employees. For instance,
Carlton would use Thunder Valley funds to buy raffle prizes that were given out at employee
functions such as Christmas parties. These prizes included gift cards from local merchants,
electronics such as televisions, iPods, PlayStations and DVD players, and other consumer goods.

According to court documents, Carlton either kept the items that she purchased for
herself or returned the items to the store for cash or merchandise credit for her own use.

Carlton is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Morrison C.
England Jr on November 1, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of
10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year term of supervised release. The actual
sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any
applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a
number of variables.

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