WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted the former Police Chief of the Swinomish for embezzling more than $30,000 from the tribe, authorities said.
Former Police Chief Thomas J. Schlicker, 57, was indicted on six counts of wire fraud and four counts of theft of tribal funds, officials said.
Schlicker, of Stanwood, Washington, served as the Swinomish Police Chief from 1997 until September 2014, when his employment was terminated.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Theft of tribal funds is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to officials.
According to the indictment, these are the allegations against Schlicker:
- Between 2008 and 2014, Schlicker is alleged to have embezzled more than $30,000 from the tribe.
- Schlicker allegedly set up a secret bank account in the name of the Swinomish Police Department without the knowledge of the tribal accounting department.
- The indictment alleges that Schlicker then deposited checks made out to the tribal police into the secret account and withdrew the proceeds in cash, which he then used for his own purposes.
- Some of the money deposited in the account came from the sale of vehicles seized and sold by the Tribal Police.
- The indictment also alleges Schlicker used the Tribe’s Chevron/Texaco credit card to purchase gas for his and his family members’ personal vehicles.
- Finally, the indictment alleges that Schlicker turned in paperwork asking to be reimbursed for the purchase of a uniform shirt, when in fact the charge was for an entry fee at a golf tournament.
Schlicker is presumed innocent until proven guilty.