Report: Federal Way School Board president indicted on felony theft charges

Tony Moore



SEATTLE -- Federal Way School Board President William Anthony "Tony" Moore Jr. has been indicted by an Oregon grand jury on seven counts of felony theft for allegedly stealing more than $150,000 worth of truck tires from a Portland tire store, The Seattle Times reported Tuesday.

The Multnomah County Court Clerk in Portland confirmed that a grand jury indictment was issued against Moore on Aug. 23, but had no other information.

Federal Way School Superintendent Rob Neu released the following statement: “We were recently made aware of the situation involving Tony Moore. We’ve been informed that the allegations do not involve Tony’s responsibilities as a board member in the Federal Way School District.  We have no further information regarding this situation at this time.”

If convicted of the felony theft charges, Moore faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 fine on each count.

The Seattle Times reported that King County deputies arrested Moore Sept. 17 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shortly before he was to board a flight to Europe as part of a school board trip to visit schools abroad. Moore posted $50,000 bond and was released from King County Jail on Sept. 20, records show, according to the Times.

Multnoham County sheriff's detective Ken Yohe told the newspaper that Moore worked with Tracy E. Holmquist, an employee of GCR Tire Centers in Portland, as part of a scheme to steal more than $150,000 of semi truck tires between March and October of 2012. Moore owns a used tire brokerage in Federal Way, the Times said.

KPTV in Portland reported that Holmquist pleaded guilty in June to seven counts of aggravated theft and is now serving 19 months in prison.

Moore was appointed to the school board in May 2008 and won as an unopposed candidate in 2011. His current term expires in 2015.

He and his wife of 23 years have lived in Federal Way since 1990 and have two children. According to the Federal Way School Board website, Moore served as the founding pastor of the largest African American church in Federal Way, stepping down from that position several years ago to take a more active role in the community.