Former Shoshone-Bannock Events Center manager pleads guilty to theft

A former manager of the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel Events Center pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing money from the Tribes.

Cody Ray Blackman,33, of Salem, Oregon appeared in U.S. District Court in Pocatello. U.S. Attorney for Idaho Wendy Olson said Blackman was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on September 22, 2015.

Blackman was employed by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes as manager of the Hotel Events Center. He was terminated on November 20, 2014. On January 10, 2015, Blackman withdrew $2,500 from a bank branch in Lakewood, Washington from an account belonging to the Events Center. According to his plea, Blackman made the withdrawal without authorization, kept the proceeds and spent the money on personal items.

Blackman recently repaid the money to the Shoshone Bannock Tribes.

The charge of theft from a tribal organization is punishable by up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Blackman is scheduled for sentencing on November 8 before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.