A former CEO of the Warm Springs Economic Development Corporation pleaded guilty today in federal court in Portland for his role in a fraud scheme targeting the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.  66-year-old Roderick Ariwite pleaded guilty to theft of funds from a tribal organization and interstate transportation of a security taken by fraud.  According to court documents, Ariwite and an accomplice, 49-year-old former Warm Springs Construction Enterprise manager Thomas Valentino Adams, created a construction company that while drawing tribal salaries and travel reimbursements, the pair engaged in work projects.  In 2018, Ariwite and Adams used tribal funds to hire a subcontractor for their company’s project and submitted vouchers for expenses they incurred on behalf of themselves and the company, which were reimbursed with tribal funds.  In total, Ariwite and Adams’ scheme cost the Warm Springs Tribes more than $50,000.  Ariwite faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and three years’ supervised release.  He will be sentenced in June 6.  Adams pleaded guilty to theft of funds from a Tribal organization in August, and will be sentenced March 29.