Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on December 3, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, TERRENA LYNN BLACKMAN, a 25-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to theft from a health care facility. Sentencing is set for March 15, 2010. She is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

The Blackfeet Care Center is an agency of tribal government providing health care services to members of the Blackfeet Tribe, and other qualifying patients, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

BLACKMAN began working for the Care Center in 2007 as the Business Office Assistant. As part of her duties, BLACKMAN was charged with the reconciliation of bank statements and Care Center checks.

Between November 12, 2008, and December 1, 2008, BLACKMAN wrote thirteen checks on the account of the Blackfeet Care Center and forged the signature of her supervisor to negotiate the fraudulent checks into cash. When the fraudulent checks came back into her possession after their negotiation and return to the Care Center by the bank, BLACKMAN shredded most or all of the fraudulent checks.

When confronted by employees of the Care Center, BLACKMAN admitted to the embezzlement and was terminated.

The loss amount to the Care Center was $3,100.

BLACKMAN faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Blackfeet Tribal Investigations Internal Affairs.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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