A federal grants director at an Abenaki Nation service organization embezzled thousands of dollars between 2013 and 2017 with the help of a bookkeeper, according to an indictment filed by prosecutors Thursday.
Louise Larivee faces charges of embezzlement from a program receiving federal funds and conspiracy to commit federal program embezzlement, court records show. The indictment came from U.S. Attorney for Vermont Christina Nolan.
Larivee embezzled more than $100,000 from the Abenaki Self-Help Association, where she oversaw grants from the Department of Labor, prosecutors say.
The nonprofit organization acts as a service arm for the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, according to the tribe’s website, aiming “to improve the socio-economic and educational conditions of community members.” Its office is in Swanton, and it receives more than $10,000 each year in grant funds from the Department of Labor, according to the indictment.
Larivee conspired with Candy Thomas, a bookkeeper at the office, to misappropriate that grant money for their own benefit, prosecutors say.
On many dates between 2014 and mid-2015, the director instructed Thomas to issue weekly paychecks to her that exceeded her authorized compensation, prosecutors say.
Then, around late May 2015, Larivee told Thomas to instead start paying her cash withdrawn from the organization’s bank account, prosecutors say.
Between then and April 2017, Thomas withdrew more than $100,000 in cash from the account on Larivee’s instruction, according to the indictment, and deposited substantial sums in cash in Larivee’s personal bank account.
Thomas issued checks and gave cash to Larivee at the director’s request in amounts significantly exceeding her authorized compensation, prosecutors say.
Thomas also issued reimbursement checks to Larivee for fraudulent mileage claims and covered up the fraud by submitting inaccurate tax forms, prosecutors say.
In charge paperwork filed in April against Thomas, prosecutors wrote that Thomas helped embezzle about $140,000. Thomas entered a plea agreement on April 3, court records show.
Bryan Barrett, a member of the Missisquoi Abenaki Tribal Council, said council members would not comment on the situation.
Eugene Rich, the Tribal Council’s chief, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
