Fish & Game officer charged with federal crimes

A Fish and Game Enforcement officer for the Swinomish Tribe was arrested and charged with theft and wire fraud in federal court this month.

Robert Scott Miller, 44, was employed by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community when he allegedly used a tribal Key Bank credit card to purchase boat parts, fuel, a chainsaw and rifle bags that were never delivered to or used by the tribe’s Fish and Game Department. Since Key Bank’s headquarters is Fargo, North Dakota, according to court documents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that transmitting the information for allegedly fraudulent purposes is wire fraud.

Furthermore, the federal prosecutors allege that Miller claimed reimbursement from the tribe for items including a 20-inch LED light and a shop vac. In all, he is accused of making unauthorized purchases totaling more than $4,200 starting in 2012 and until late April this year.

On June 1, agents conducted a search on Miller’s home, which is on the reservation, and located the shop vac and observed other items fitting the description of those obtained in unauthorized purchases.

Miller, whom the U.S. Attorney’s Officer referred to as a “former employee” in its Sept. 10 press release — though an affidavit filed with the court on Aug. 31 stated he was still employed — faces nine counts of wire fraud and two separate counts of theft of tribal funds.

Miller was arrested on Sept. 3, and released on an appearance bond that same day, according to court documents. He is scheduled to appear at his preliminary hearing in federal court in Seattle tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 17.

A conviction for wire fraud would carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, and theft of tribal funds is punishable by up to one year in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Another former tribal employee, former Swinomish Police Chief Thomas Schlicker, 57, took a plea agreement last month, admitting he stole more than $30,000 from the tribe by depositing police department money into a secret account and making withdrawals in cash.

Schlicker, too, was charged with several counts of wire fraud, but those charges are expected to be dropped when he is sentenced next month.