Federal grand jury indicts former tribal police chief in Washington on charges he embezzled $30,000



SEATTLE (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted the former police chief of the Swinomish Tribe in Washington state on charges he embezzled more than $30,000.

The U.S. attorney's office in Seattle says Thomas J. Schlicker, of Stanwood, served as chief from 1997 until last September, when he was fired.

The 57-year-old is scheduled to be arraigned next week. No attorney has filed an appearance in federal court on his behalf.

Prosecutors say Schlicker set up a secret bank account in the name of the Swinomish Police Department without the knowledge of the tribal accounting department, then deposited checks made out to the department and withdrew the money for his own use.

He's also accused of using the tribe's gas station credit card to buy gas for his and his family's personal vehicles.

The charges include wire fraud and theft of tribal funds.

The Swinomish reservation is on Fidalgo Island near Anacortes.