Tribe’s Trouble-Shooter Indicted For Embezzlement

A man hired to solve management problems at the Yakama Nation Housing Authority has been indicted on federal charges of embezzling more than $92,000 in funds and goods.

John Sawicki was indicted here Wednesday by a federal grand jury, accused of “embezzlement and conversion of goods and funds” totaling $92,625, said U.S. Attorney James P. Connelly of Spokane.

Sawicki, 52, formerly a San Diego businessman, was hired by the tribe in 1993 to clean up management problems at the housing authority. His contract as executive director was terminated in November after the embezzlement allegations surfaced.

The authority, which manages 684 units in 17 housing projects, is receiving $3.6 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds for the fiscal year ending March 31.

After years of mismanagement, HUD officials slapped a “high-risk” designation on the agency in 1993 and threatened to cut its funding if improvements were not made. Among the problems HUD noted was the lack of a system to ensure federal funds were not mismanaged or misused.

The embezzlement charge includes 14 separate allegations, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Kresse, based here.

Among them is a contention that Sawicki used housing-authority money to buy a horse trailer, appliances and equipment for his house, and to upgrade his personal computer, Kresse said.