TACOMA — A former Neah Bay resident who followed in his grandfather’s footsteps to serve on the Makah Tribal Council has been sentenced to six months’ incarceration for embezzling tribal funds.
Ryland Chad Bowechop, 38, of Bellingham was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty Feb. 3 in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to stealing $30,000.
Bowechop also must pay the tribe $30,000 in restitution.
He illegally made tribal credit card purchases and casino-related cash advances for personal use from June 2010 to May 2014.
Bowechop resigned from the tribal council in July 2014.
The federal charge of embezzling $50,182 from a tribal organization was filed against Bowechop on June 26.
The amount Bowechop must pay back was decided upon as the result of plea negotiations, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tate London of Seattle, the agency’s tribal liaison.
Public trust
London said that in sentencing Bowechop, Judge Ronald Leighton spoke of the public trust Bowechop violated as a tribal council member, a full-time, paid position once held by Bowechop’s grandfather, George, who also had been the tribe’s executive director.
“He said Bowechop was like an elder, someone who was supposed to be looking out for the interests of the tribal community over his own interests, that he should have been guided by the value of the tribe,” London said.
Bowechop, a former tribal planner and forestry department worker, was contrite in addressing Leighton. He spoke for less than a minute.
“He said he was sorry and took responsibility for his actions,” London said.
Tribal Chairwoman Marla Tolliver did not return calls for comment Friday afternoon.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Bowechop could have received six months to 12 months and a day.
Sought longer sentence
The U.S. Attorney’s Office sought a 10-month sentence.
“With all of those privileges and responsibilities, he shouldn’t receive a slap on the wrist . . . while others receive custodial sentences,” London said.
“So I’m pleased he’s receiving a custodial sentence.”
Lawyer Cooper Offenbacher of Seattle, representing Bowechop, asked that his client serve five years of probation and no incarceration, saying Bowechop had a gambling addiction.
Offenbacher did not return a call for comment late Friday afternoon.
London said Bowechop will be contacted by the federal Marshall’s Service to self-report at federal lock-up, likely either the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac or the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan, Ore., a medium-security prison where Offenbacher wants Bowechop incarcerated.
Outstanding
Bowechop, who grew up in Neah Bay, became a leader in tribal cultural affairs at an early age, according to Offenbacher’s sentencing recommendation.
“At his high school graduation, he gave a speech about Makah whaling — in flawless native Makah tongue,” Maria Pascua, a tribal language teacher, said in one of several letters to the court supporting Bowechop.
“Mr. Bowechop received a standing ovation, and there were tears and awe at that historic graduation,” she said.
Misused credit card
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Neah Bay Department of Public Safety.
According to the complaint filed June 26, 2015, Bowechop began misusing his tribal travel credit card “no later than in or about February 2009,” amassing $50,182 in illegal personal charges for gas, cash advances, travel expenditures and clothing, according to an FBI forensic accountant-field agent.
The agent found an additional $70,899.65 in questionable expenditures by Bowechop. No receipts were provided, the agent said, and the money was not part of the case.
Shortly after Bowechop began serving on the tribal council in January 2009, tribal Administrative Manager Lois Peterson saw that Bowechop was making gas charges on his tribal travel credit card, which are not allowed because mileage is reimbursed by the tribe.
Having already worked in the planning department, “Bowechop did not appear to have any issue, or misunderstanding at that time, regarding the tribe’s policies regarding his use of a tribal credit card,” according to the complaint.
The complaint was filed six years after the anomalies were noticed.
“Every time he used the tribal credit card and it was not for an appropriate purpose, it was pretty clear and pretty egregious, and yes, it would have been nice if the tribe had called him out on this much earlier,” London said.
“Working in Indian Country is not unlike other small rural communities.
“The internal controls may not be what you would expect with other entities or organizations.”
London said tribal officials believe Bowechop stole more than $100,000 but that the $30,000 agreed to by Bowechop’s attorney and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was the most manageable in terms of a plea negotiation.
“Going to trial involves additional resources and risks,” London said.
“In a case like this, every single invoice becomes part of your proof.
“It’s very, very resource-intensive.”
But London said the plea agreement and sentencing do not preclude another party from filing a civil case against Bowechop, which would have a lower standard of proof than the criminal case.
“That would be up to the tribe or someone who had standing,” London said.
“I don’t know anyone else who would have standing.”
Case watched
The case was closely watched by Makah tribal members, said Keith Johnson, a former tribal council member and general manager and president of the tribal Whaling Commission since 1997.
“There’s just too many political implications, so people are just watching it from behind the scenes, just quietly watching,” Johnson said Friday.
“Unfortunately, it happened.
“We just want things to be ironed out and lessons to be learned.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
