Alaska Addict embezzles to gamble in Washington state, Las Vegas and New Orleans

The indictment alleges [Maggie Ahmaogak] spent the money to gamble in Washington state, Las Vegas and New Orleans.

Former whaling commission director indicted for embezzlement, accused of gambling
MARK THIESSEN Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The former longtime executive director of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury and accused of stealing about $475,000 from the organization.

The indictment was returned against Maggie Ahmaogak, 61, the second former whaling commission director to face federal charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aunnie Steward said Ahmaogak was not in custody and a summons will be issued for her arrest.

The U.S. attorney's office listed her home in Barrow, but she has a phone listing in Anchorage. A man who answered the phone at the number confirmed it was for the former director but said she wasn't home. She didn't immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

The commission was formed in 1976 to protect Eskimo culture and activities associated with subsistence bowhead whale hunting, according to a release from the U.S. attorney's office announcing the indictment.

The commission's current director, Johnny Aiken, told the AP by telephone from his Barrow office that the organization was aware an investigation was under way but didn't know that Ahmaogak had been indicted. He declined further comment.

Steward said it was the commission that first notified her office by letter that there were concerns funds might have been misused.

That letter came after another former whaling commission director, Teresa Judkins, was fired in 2008. Federal authorities last summer charged her with stealing more than $100,000 from the organization in a two-year span ending with her termination. She has pleaded not guilty and faces a jury trial beginning March 5 in Anchorage.

Authorities allege Ahmaogak stole $475,000 from 2004 until 2007, when she was fired. She is charged with wire fraud, theft, misapplication of funds from an organization receiving federal grant funds, and money laundering, according to the release. If convicted she could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.

Authorities allege Ahmaogak wrote checks to herself from the organization's account, never repaid paycheck advances, transferred commission account money into her own account, and used the commission's credit card for personal use, according to the release.

The indictment alleges she spent the money to gamble in Washington state, Las Vegas and New Orleans. Authorities also allege she bought three snowmobiles and put a down payment on an SUV.

In the separate case, authorities allege Judkins also used commission funds to buy a snowmachine, never paid back payroll advances and used funds to pay for travel.

The whaling commission receives a majority of its funds from federal grants, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration being the biggest benefactor. From 2004 to 2007, the time Ahmaogak is accused of embezzling funds, federal authorities say the whaling commission received $2.3 million from NOAA, a division of the Department of Commerce.

"Certainly it is a cause of concern, but we can't comment on it for legal reasons," NOAA spokeswoman Julie Speegle said.

The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General investigated the case.