Former Sault Tribe Police Chief Fred Paquin Arrested
Feds Make Strong Statement On Corruption!
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=44196
January 20, 2010
Dear Editors and concerned taxpayers,
There is a 47 page Federal indictment charging Fred Paquin and his Daughter Mary Cullen. Fred Paquin was arrested last evening and arraigned in federal court in Marquette today. I have the indictment and find it very interesting that all the things I have been telling people has now been confirmed. I find it ironic that the front page of the St. Ignace News lists Fred Paquin as one of the four top picks as St. Ignace Police Chief. The rumor I reported yesterday that Councilman Paul Fullerton nominated Paquin for Police Chief and Councilman Tom Della-Moretta supported was confirmed in the paper. It has however been tabled for further discussion.
In light of the arrest of Fred Paquin I'm sure there will be lots of discussion and feel confident the Council will still support Paquin as they have for so many years. Of course there is the consideration that Paquin no longer has access to the purse strings of the tribe where in the past has funneled millions of dollars into the City of St. Ignace coffers. That benefit has been passed on to Paquins first cousin and Sault Tribe Director Keith Massaway who continues to steer hundreds of thousands of Sault Tribe dollars into the St. Ignace coffers.
After reading the indictment I also have to wonder if St. Ignace Police Officer Rich Cullen, husband of co-conspirator Mary Cullen and son-in-law to co-conspirator Fred Paquin, will be held accountable by St. Igance for his knowledge in the conspiracy. To this day City leaders have been reluctant to step to the plate and address some real issues, including some that are not related to this case but city taxpayers know about.
Some months ago I was in the office of St. Ignace City Manager, Eric Dodson and told him of certain items that were taken out of the Fort de Buade museum. Of course nothing has been done nor do I think anything will be done. I don't live in the City but do hear of other issues concerning city employees and benefits that some receive while others don't. It seems the arrogance and good old boys network plays a big roll in the way the city operates,,, much like the Sault Tribe.
Also mentioned in the indictment is a longtime business owner. The Federal Grand Jury has reconvened and has been taking testimony the last couple oF weeks. That should turn a light on!!!!!! Paquin has already indicted so evidently others are being investigated. More to come.......
Tony Grondin
http://www.sooeveningnews.com/news/x1689215145/FBI-arrests-former-tribal-police-chief
As Seen Through The Eyes Of Aaron Payment The Narcissist
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:41 AM
From: "Aaron Payment"
To: aaronpayment@yahoo.com
Hey, just to clarify, while I as Chair, I only signed off on disbursements over $10,000. The Assistant Executive Director's and CFO's signature authority allowed expenditures up to that amount if it was pre-budgeted (meaning the specific items was included in the back up justification that made up a respective budget). The Chair's role in what was cited Paquin's secretary's indictment was to sign off on receiving the grant, and budget modification with the funding source (Department of Justice in this case) to request an extension for the grant. Normally, with federal funding like this, they expect the recipient (ie. the Sault Tribe in this case) to use all the money. With law enforcement equipment and staffing, they are flexible in granting extension as it make sense to use up old equipment before buying new equipment. They are very cooperative and accommodating. Unfortunately, Paquin took advantage of this by having a rolling amount from these budgets in order to use the funds for personal use. I have some idea of what they will charge him with, but, the actual indictment will show this for sure.
Now to address the issue of how could this happen under my watch or under the Board's direction for that matter as they must also vote to modfiy budgets and extend grant years.
The system is only as good as the integrity of the players up the chain of command. This suggests that the Sault Tribe desperately needs to establish an Inspector General position who has broad investigatory and subpoena powers and who does not report to the Board or Chair. Normally, the Sault Tribe has not had any problems. However, there has been instances (like Bouschor using Home Improvement and Emergency Needs dollars to renovate Jessica Bouschor's home while she was making $44,000 a year salary as a secretary in the mid 1990s).
In this case, all the proper procedures were followed by the Tribe (above the law enforcement level) and the funding agency. The problem lies in the fact that Fred intended to do something criminal and acted to conceal his actions through the flexible contract extension process of the DOJ. He covered his tracks by ordering subordinate staff to do what was done (falsify time cards and payroll sheets to pay his daughter for work she did not do for up to 9 months, cut checks to vendors for bogus orders and keep open credits at these vendors so he could personally pick up items and circumvent Sault Tribe accounting protocols that would have otherwise caught it, possibly cut checks to auto vendors for kickbacks, ask police equipment vendors to falsify invoices to deceive ST Accounting and the funding source, etc.). I understand there are up to 12 federal indictments coming down.
There is speculation that others will also be charged. Who might those others be? Well, during the time of the embezzlement and conspiracy to commit cited in Paquin's secretary's indictment (or larceny by conversion not cited), Krisi Little was Paquin's supervisor. During the time that the FBI was investigating Paquin's actions, Victor Matson, Jr was his supervisor (obstruction of justice in trying to destroy evidence also not cited). Neither Kristi Little or Victor Matson brought these issues to my attention. However, the email passage below shows my disdain for both of them for concealing the investigation of Paquin from me (I was both their supervisor) at a critical time when Paquin was allegedly destroying evidence.
Also note the Board's role (whether intentional or not - you decide) in pushing hard to put Paquin back to work during the federal FBI criminal investigation. The day he went back to work, he allegedly tried to destroy payroll and time card information that the FBI was specifically investigating. Did Causley and Hoffman and other Board members know they were putting him back to work for this purpose? Only they and possibly a lie detector or sworn testimony will tell. Stay tuned.
---------------------ORIGINAL EMAIL SENT 3-21-08-------------------------------------
On Fri, 3/21/08, Aaron Payment wrote:
From: Aaron Payment
Subject: Investigation
To: "Victor Matson" , "
Date: Friday, March 21, 2008, 11:31 AM
I cannot express how disappointed I am that there is an apparent criminal investigation occurring that you both knew about but didn't feel the need to inform your supervisor. I understand that you both knew as of 3-5-08. This is a full 15 days ago!
I am less concerned that neither of you felt the need to inform both your supervisor and the CEO of this Tribe than I am with the possibility that evidence is being destroyed. With reports that evidence is being destroyed, I am wondering why no one bothered to try to secure files, documents, time cards, network systems or any other possible evidence that may be required for prosecution. I also understand that staff attorneys suggested that we do something to lock down possible evidence and that the response was that we didn't want to offend the individual who is the subject of the investigation.
On Monday, I plan on contacting the FBI myself to make clear that we will fully cooperate in whatever investigation they deem necessary and urge them to further investigate whether or not there were any efforts to obstruct justice. If evidence is being destroyed, this suggests to me that someone who was informed of said investigation alerted the individual who is the subject of the investigation.
Before I conclude no activity occurred to protect the property of the Tribe that may be necessary for this criminal investigation, I need each of you to report to me if any measures were taken under your responsibility to protect such possible evidence.
Next, I need you to chronicle all communications you have had with anyone including email, text messages, phone conversations, etc. regarding this issue inclusive of any reports you have received that evidence may have been or is being destroyed.
You are hereby directed not to delete any files from your computer or alter any cell records or files from your blackberries.
Victor: With just the specter of a possible investigation of XXXX XXXXXXX, and her subsequent suspension from work, I need to understand why this is not the same recommendation for the individual who is the subject of this criminal investigation?
Finally, you are both hereby directed to not communicate the contents of this email with anyone and are not to speak of this investigation with anyone without first clearing any and all communications through Joceyln Fabry, Tribal Prosecutor.
Failure to comply with the contents of the above directives will be cause for immediate suspension and possible termination.
Today Aaron Payment On One Of His Many Sites Splashed Another Slew Of His Deceits
But Do The Below Documents Portray Another Story?
(Click On Documents To Enlarge)
