Former senior center director indicted by federal grand jury

Bryon Glathar, Herald Managing Editor
Posted 8/16/18

Blakeman faces up to 10 years for alleged embezzlement

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Former senior center director indicted by federal grand jury

Posted

EVANSTON — A former director for Uinta Senior Citizens, Inc., who was put on administrative leave two and a half years ago and fired shortly after, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly misusing public funds.

Sarah Kristina Blakeman of Evanston is charged with one count of theft from an organization receiving federal funds. According to the indictment, Blakeman “knowingly and unlawfully embezzled and intentionally misapplied property worth at least $5,000 that was in the care, custody or control of Uinta Senior Citizens, Inc.”

By promising to appear at all proceedings as required and to surrender for service of any sentence imposed, Blakeman was spared confinement while the case plays out.

Blakeman pleaded not guilty on Aug. 1 in United States District Court for the District of Wyoming in Cheyenne. Blakeman was appointed two federal public defenders, Melanie Gavisk of Cheyenne and Tracy Racicot Hucke of Cheyenne.

A trial has been set for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Joseph C. O’Mahoney Federal Center in Cheyenne.

If convicted, Blakeman faces up to 10 years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines and up to three years supervised probation. 

Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson said she hasn’t received a report to review for potential state charges, but “if and when such a report is submitted,” she will review it to see if additional charges are appropriate.

Senior center director Aimee Ottley was out of town and unable to be reached by press time, and no other employees at the center have been authorized to talk about the investigation into Blakeman. The Herald also reached out to multiple board members, but those calls were not returned by press time.

Blakeman had been the director of Uinta Senior Citizens, which oversees the Evanston and Bridger Valley senior centers, for 15 years before the board voted to remove her from her active role on Feb. 10, 2016. Then-board chair Georgia Harvey confirmed at the time that Blakeman was under investigation, but stressed no seniors were ever put in harm’s way due to Blakeman’s alleged actions. Harvey has since stepped down from the board.

Evanston’s senior center is funded by a variety of entities, but mostly with state and federal funds. Uinta County and the City of Evanston also provide funds for the center through the Human Services Board.