Unsubstantiated allegations against a former tribal official for Clarks Point Village, AK

OIG investigated allegations that a former official for the Village of Clarks Point stole funds from the Tribe by writing herself checks from the Tribe’s checking account in excess of $56,000 between 2008 and 2012. 

 

Clarks Point is a compact tribe with the Bristol Bay Native Association (BBNA), which administers their Federal funds, including $169,000 received annually from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The former official’s salary was paid directly by BBNA using BIA funds. The former official stated the checks she wrote to herself from the Clarks Point account were an authorized supplement to her income. The Tribe told us the former official was already receiving supplemental income from BBNA and the checks she wrote to herself amounted to “double dipping.”

 

Our investigation did not substantiate the allegations of theft. We determined that the former official received approximately $51,000 in checks issued from the Clarks Point Village’s checking account between 2008 and 2012. The former official did not circumvent council approval, as she obtained signatures from two council members on each check, including an executive board member on at least 19 occasions. 

 

This is a summary of a report of investigation that was provided to BIA for information only.