Former Executive Director of Nonprofit Organization That Received DOJ Grant Funds Sentenced for Theft of Public Funds

On June 29, 2021, the former executive director of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition (MNWC) was sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay $35,127 in restitution for one count of theft of public funds.  Sheryl Lawrence was sentenced in the District of Montana.  According to the plea agreement, Lawrence pleaded guilty to a one-count Information, which stated that in or about 2017 and 2018, she knowingly converted money for her own use, with the intention of depriving the United States of the use and benefit of such money, in an amount exceeding $1,000.  The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Denver Field Office.