Willie Andrew Sharp, the former chairman of the Blackfeet Tribe, was recently sentenced to prison for his role in a scheme that stole federal funds from the tribe’s Head Start child assistance program.
According to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and the Cut Bank Pioneer Press, Sharp has been sentenced to 10 months in prison, as well as two years of supervised release along with being ordered to pay $174,000 in restitution for his role in the overtime pay scheme. Sharp pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in November 2017.
Denise L. Sharp, Sharp’s wife and ex-Head Start personnel manager, was sentenced earlier to nine months in prison, along with three other co-defendants.
According to court records, Sharp approved and authorized false overtime claims, which totaled $174,000 in federal funds for more than 5,800 hours claimed over a 15-month period, according to the report.
“The theft of $174,000 hurt the children enrolled in Head Start by prohibiting the purchase of books, barring the ability to obtain teaching materials and cutting food nutrition programs for those who need it most,” said Alme, according to the Press. “We will continue to ensure that federal funds are used for the needs of those intended, especially children."
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