SAN DIEGO (CN) - The former executive director of the San Diego-based Indian Human Resource Center pleaded guilty to embezzling $141,000 from the nonprofit in the 3 months he was its boss, federal prosecutors said.
David M. Hedley, 38, of San Diego, admitted he swiped $141,260 and spent thousands of it at casinos, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. Hedley was executive director of the group from Sept. 10 to Dec. 11, 2012.
He embezzled the federal funds through a credit card that gave him "virtually unrestricted access" to the group's credit union account," the U.S. attorney said.
Hedley simply went on a gambling spree with tribal money, according to the U.S. attorney's statement: $15,000 on Oct. 9 at the Viejas Casino; $20,000 on Oct. 12 at the Pala Casino; and "thousands of dollars in stolen funds at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino" in Las Vegas, which he got to by embezzling another $800 for airline tickets.
The Indian Human Resource Center was set up to train Native Americans to find work outside their tribes.
Hedley faces up to 10 years in prison at his Oct. 21 sentencing, plus $141,260.44 in restitution.
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