Jackson man sentenced for EBCI embezzlement

Jackson man to serve 18 months for EBCI embezzlement

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

AJackson County man who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $95,000 from an enterprise of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will spend 18 months in prison and pay nearly $200,000 in restitution, according to a sentence U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger handed down Feb. 18.

According to the bill of information filed when the case began in June 2020, Frederick Thomas Gettins Strohm, 41, was the office manager for Cherokee Broadband Enterprises, and as such he had access to CBE bank accounts and bank cards. However, from the year 2014 through 2018, he used that access to “embezzle, steal and convert” more than $95,000 in CBE funds for personal use.

According to court documents, many of Strohm’s illegally gotten gains went toward the purchase of sports paraphernalia. The illicit expenditures included $301.72 on belts and belt buckles — including a decorative Florida State Seminoles belt buckle — and a mini helmet display collection from Fanatics.com. Between Aug. 20, 2017, and Jan. 14, 2018, Strohm used CBE funds to cover an additional $4,369.86 in PayPal purchases from Fanatics.com, “including but not limited to purchasing two Jacksonville Jaguars jerseys customized to read ‘STROHM’ on the back, each of which cost $299.99, and a Derek Jeter collage,” court documents say.

Those PayPal purchases accounted for just a small portion of the $45,855.01 he made in PayPal payments during the years 2015 through 2018, some covering personal purchases and some consisting of cash payments to himself. Additionally, in 2017 and 2018 he used CBE funds to pay $57,637.31 in credit card bills unrelated to CBE business, and between 2014 and 2016 he used the CBE debit card to make $7,758.58 in personal online purchases, court document say. These online purchases included $119 for LED fog lights for his Dodge Challenger and $134.98 for vaping products.

According to court documents, Strohm attempted to evade detection throughout the years he was stealing from CBE. For example, in September 2016 he sent a CBE bank statement to Tribal Finance that had been altered to remove details about debit purchase that would have exposed his wrongdoing. He also deleted QuickBooks files from the CBE computer that would have given him away, but authorities were able to recover the deleted files.

Strohm was charged with one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization, a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison when the value of the property in question exceeds $1,000.

He pleaded guilty during a hearing held Sept. 9, 2020, and Reidinger sentenced him on Feb. 18. After serving 18 months in prison, Strohm will be on supervised release for three years. One of the many conditions of that release is a requirement to participate in a mental health evaluation and treatment program. He will also be required to pay $199,077.66 in restitution and a $100 assessment to the EBCI, though the sum may be repaid in monthly installments of $50 rather than all at once. It would take approximately 332 years to pay back such a large sum of money at a rate of $50 per month.

Six people wrote letters in support of Strohm’s character for Reidinger to consider at sentencing. They included the pastor of a church he had attended in Texas, a listener of his radio show Afternoon Drive, two close friends, his father, and his pre-teen daughter. “I don’t think my dad should go to jail because I will miss him when he isn’t with me,” his daughter wrote. “I love my dad so much and I don’t want to lose him at all. Plus, my dog will miss him too.”

Beginning March 2, Mission Health hospitals will be relaxing visitor restrictions from the previous level two.

Mission will now allow two visitors per inpatient during regular visitor hours. Patients who are hospitalized overnight may now have one visitor remain with them overnight. Outpatient surgery patients may have one visitor.

Due to the high number of patients continuously being cared for at the Mission Hospital ER, these patients may have one visitor with them. ER patients at Angel Medical Center, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Mission Hospital McDowell, and Transylvania Regional Hospital may have two visitors with them.

There is no change in visitation policy regarding COVID-19 patients: visitors will not be allowed for COVID-19 positive patients or for patients awaiting a COVID-19 test result; additionally, there continues to be one visitor allowed at the Eckerd Living Center on the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital campus in accordance with CMS guidelines. Screenings and access restrictions are still in place.

Haywood Dems plan precinct meetings

The 2021 precinct organizing meetings for Haywood County will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 15, via Zoom.

To ensure security, participants must pre-register by Saturday, March 13. The pre-registration link can be found at www.haywooddemocrats.org.

After registering, and upon approval, you will receive a confirmation email containing information to join the meeting. The order of business is to elect precinct officers, review and adopt resolutions, collect N.C. Democratic Party sustaining funds, elect delegates to the County Convention on April 10 and begin organizing for the 2021 Municipal Elections and the 2022 Mid Term Election.

Registered Democrats and like-minded Unaffiliated voters are encouraged to participate; however, only registered Democrats are eligible to vote on business items.

For additional information, email haywooddemocrats@gmail.com or call 828.452.9607.

When we plant native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, we create a nursery for wildlife. Wildlife, in turn, help to save the ecosystem that we depend on for our survival. Native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers prevent or slow down the storm water runoff that our increasingly extreme weather makes worse. They save the beneficial insects, birds, and animals on which our food supply depends.

While fall is the optimal time to plant, once the ground is workable in late winter and early spring, we can add natives to our lawns and gardens. For success, follow directions for late winter/early spring planting in the resources below.

“Our native oaks especially help support the wildlife in our area,” said Haywood County’s Horticulture Extension Agent Sam Marshall. “They are home to more than 400 different species of caterpillars, with a great number of caterpillars within each species. All those caterpillars help feed our native birds. We are still finding out about all the insects and other life that live in our oak trees.”

A QUADRUPLE WIN

1. We save time and money because native species generally grow better in the region where they originate, require less mainte-

nance, and resist some non-native diseases. 2. Deciduous trees provide homes with shade in the summer and, by allowing sunshine through, warmth in the winter. 3. We establish habitat and food sources for native wildlife in addition to providing beauty for your yard. 4. Native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers prevent soil erosion and mitigate runoff, as noted above.

Realize there may be a trade-off. When we plant native species, we are creating a “food pantry” that helps support wildlife. Marshall explained, “Some people get upset because some insects are more likely to feed on native plants. It rarely kills the plant, but the plant can look chewed up at the end of the season. To compensate, a small number of non-native plants are fine.” Design flower beds so something is always blooming in at least a few spots.

SPRING INTO ACTION

First, plan: Even a native plant or tree will die or get sick in the wrong spot without the drainage, nutrients, and amount of water it needs to survive. If you need help, consult a Master Gardener or a nursery selling plants not treated with pesticides or herbicides. Sam Marshall oversees Haywood County’s Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, a group of more than 100. “This isn’t a garden club,” said Sam. “This is a group of people with training in horticultural science are who are available to provide you the information you need to troubleshoot any problems.” Learn the characteristics of what you are planting. Some native plant species do so well that they are invasive—they spread more than you want. If you want a plant that spreads, literally nip it in the bud by removing the seeds before they drop or fly away.

Second, unless you are certain about what will grow in the chosen spots, get a soil sample now. See the County Extension office contact and link to directions for taking samples below.

Avoid chemically treated areas. Roundup and other neonics kill pollinating insects the human food supply depends on. Terminix warns that plants for beneficial insects should be more than four feet from exterior walls where exterminators spray.

Third, amend your soil according to soil sample recommendations. Buy plants from a nursery you can trust to sell chemical-free plants.

Fourth, enjoy planting, watering, and watching your early spring project blossom.

WHAT YOU NEED

Trees and plants native to each North Carolina region: • projects.ncsu.edu/goingnative • plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Rules to observe so your plantings thrive • todayshomeowner.com/can-i-plant-treesand-shrubs-in-late-fall-or-winter

Resources • Haywood County Agricultural Extension

Office: 828.456.575. • Master Gardener Volunteers: emgv.ces.ncsu.edu

Laura Armour is a freelance journalist in Haywood County. Mary Jane Curry is a retired university teacher-researcher, ClimateReality® Leader, and editor of the Triple-win Climate Solutions column. Alexandra Kirtley designed our logo and manages the website www.wncclimateaction.com.

Stayat Maggie Valley Club & Resort thisWinter!