AN ALBUQUERQUE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF DOLLARS FROM THE JICARILLA APACHE TRIBE. SIXTY-THREE YEAR OLD ROBERT WELLS ADMITTED IN COURT THAT HE EMBEZZLED NEARLY 215-THOUSAND DOLLARS BETWEEN JULY 2011 AND OCTOBER OF 2011 WHILE WORKING AS THE COMPTROLLER FOR THE TRIBE'S UTILITY AUTHORITY.
HE EMBEZZLED THE MONEY FROM THE TRIBE'S WELLS-FARGO UTILITY AUTHORITY ACCOUNT. THE FIRST AMOUNT WAS FOR 500 DOLLARS, FOLLOWED ANOTHER FOR 92-THOUSAND DOLLARS AND A FINAL TRANSACTION OF NEARLY 122-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UNDER THE TERMS OF HIS PLEA AGREEMENT HE'LL SERVE PROBATION AND HAVE TO REPAY THE MONEY TO THE TRIBE. NO SENTENCING DATE HAS BEEN SET.
