SASKATOON – The man accused of stealing money from a Saskatchewan First Nation is facing four new charges.
Hugo Gallegos, a former senior accountant at Whitecap Dakota First Nation south of Saskatoon, was charged last September with theft and fraud after funds went missing.
It is alleged over one-million dollars was taken.
Gallegos fled the country and a Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest. He returned to Canada in late October and turned himself in to face the charges.
He has now been charged by RCMP with counts of theft and fraud over $5,000, possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000 and money laundering.
The charges stem from January 2009 to July 2013.
“It’s a step on the road to justice,” said Darcy Bear, chief of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
Bear was responding to the new developments in the case of Gallegos accused of stealing millions from Whitecap.
RCMP say the investigation continues and Gallegos could be facing even more charges.
“Financial crime investigations are complex, take a lot of time and there are a lot of different avenues of investigation to go down,” said Sgt. Matt Peggs, with RCMP Integrated Organized Crime North.
According to Bear, its estimated Gallegos stole as much as $2.5 million from the First Nation, which is now impacting Whitecap’s capital projects.
Gallegos’ next court appearance is scheduled for May 12.
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