Search this Chehalis River Council site!Tuesday, August 24, 2004
By Sharyn L. Decker sdecker@chronline.com , The Chronicle
The former director of natural resources for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation will undergo two months of home confinement after he completes 250 hours of community service following his federal court sentencing for theft from the tribe, the U.S. Attorney's Office said on Monday.
Charanjit Singh Sodhi, Olympia, pleaded guilty to charges in connection with what federal prosecutors called a $15,000 kickback of money paid by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to a contractor. Sodhi was sentenced Aug. 13 in Tacoma by U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton.
In addition to the confinement and community service, Sodhi was ordered to to pay $30,000 restitution, and will be on probation for two years.
The money came from a service contract Sodhi awarded in the amount of $30,000 for preparation of a report about a water resource and survey technician training program being conducted by the tribe in 2001, according to the U. S. Attorney's Office.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sodhi worked for the tribe until 2002.
The judge agreed with the sentence recommended by prosecutors ,saying that crimes by public officials in fiduciary positions are very serious and such defendants need to be held accountable, according to Emily Langlie, public affairs officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Sharyn L. Decker covers law enforcement, local fire departments and the courts for The Chronicle. She may be reached by e-mail at sdecker@chronline.com, or by telephoning 807-8235.
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