Date: 05-30-2016

Case Style: United States of America v. Freida Ann Battise-Moore

Case Number: 16-CR-130

Judge: Steven P. Logan

Court: United States District Court for the District of Arizona (Maricopa County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Dominic William Lanza

Defendant's Attorney: Bill Foreman

Description: Phoenix, AZ - Tribal Fiduciary Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison For Seven-Year Scheme to Steal More Than $260,000 From Vulnerable Members of The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Freida Ann Battise-Moore, 55, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced 30 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay over $260,000 in restitution. Battise-Moore had previously pleaded guilty to theft or embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization.

“Ms. Battise-Moore violated the trust of the Community and its members, so the Community petitioned the court that she be incarcerated for her crime. The Community takes this matter very seriously and has taken the necessary steps that it will not happen again,” said Delbert Ray, Sr., President, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

In 2001, Battise-Moore—a law school graduate and a member of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe—was hired by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to serve as the court-appointed representative for the tribe’s incapacitated and incompetent members. In this sensitive role as “public fiduciary,” Battise-Moore was responsible for handling all of her clients’ financial affairs (i.e., receiving their Social Security, commercial and agricultural lease, and other payments and using the proceeds to pay their rent, medical bills, and other expenses). Beginning in 2006, Battise-Moore began stealing from some of her clients. Her misconduct went undetected until September 2013, at which point she was fired. A subsequent audit showed that Battise-Moore had stolen more than $260,000 from 49 clients and had spent the proceeds on expensive sports tickets and gambling, among other things. Judge Logan enhanced Battise-Moore’s sentence in recognition of the vulnerability of the victims and the fact that Battise-Moore had abused a position of trust.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Salt River Police Department.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced 30 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay over $260,000 in restitution.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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