Former Healy Lake chief, administrator sentenced for taking federal, tribal funds
JoAnn Poulston, of Fairbanks, was sentenced last week to three years probation, including 90 days of home confinement. She’s also to cooperate with the Healy Lake Tribe to pay back $102,869 to the tribe and $4,577 to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
According to a statement from the U.S. District Attorney’s office, between 2009 and 2013, Poulston wrote checks, transferred funds, and paid herself more more than $100,000 above and beyond her salary. Poulston also double-billed the tribe and the BIA for $4,577 in per diem.