Okanagan Woman Indicted In Connection With Theft Of Colville Tribe Funds From Family Member -07/09/24

Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted Nina Rae Tatshama-Marchand, of Okanagan County, Washington, for bank fraud in connection with the unauthorized withdrawal and transfer of funds belong to a developmentally-disabled member of the Colville Tribe.

The Indictment announced today charges Nina Rae Tatshama-Marchand, of Okanagan County, Washington, with five counts of bank fraud. The Indictment alleges that Tatshama-Marchand opened a checking account with a developmentally-disabled minor and that after the victim, an enrolled member of the Colville Tribe, turned 18, he received tribal funds  due to his tribal membership. The indictment alleges that Tatshama-Marchand diverted the vast majority of the funds intended for the victim into her own accounts and converted it for her own personal use.  According to the indictment, Tatshama-Marchand fraudulently obtained at least $34,900.00 in this manner.

“Protecting vulnerable members of the community and safeguarding precious and limited tribal funds are top priorities of our office,” said United States Attorney Waldref. “My office will work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold fraudsters accountable when they prey on innocent members of the community in order to line their own pockets.”

The fraud charges carry sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison as well as restitution for fraudulently-obtained funds. This case was investigated by the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frieda K. Zimmerman.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Case No:         2:24-CR-81-TOR