The former chairman of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska has been sentenced in federal court for his role in theft of funds from the WinnaVegas Casino.
63-year-old John Blackhawk of Winnebago was sentenced to five years of probation and 150 hours of community service.
Blackhawk was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $36,000.
Prosecutors say beginning in 2013 and continuing through September of 2014, Blackhawk began taking unauthorized disbursements from the WinnaVegas Casino and Resort in the total amount of $36,000.
The disbursements were in the form of gift certificates which he did not pay for and deposits to a re-loadable debit card.
The disbursements were in addition to the salary Blackhawk received from the Winnebago Tribe as a tribal council member, but the disbursements were not paid through the payroll department of the Winnebago Tribe and were never authorized at a regular or special meeting of the tribal council.
The disbursements were concealed from the Winnebago Gaming Commission which oversaw the operations of the casino.
