11/15/23

A CAMP VERDE WOMAN WHO EMBEZZLED MORE THAN HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE YAVAPAI-APACHE TRIBE HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON. THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD SAVANNAH SANDOVAL SERVED AS THE COMPTROLLER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION HOUSING DEPARTMENT BETWEEN AUGUST 2017 AND MAY 2022. DURING THAT TIME, SHE EMBEZZLED NEARLY $671,000 FROM THE YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION, INCLUDING MORE THAN $133,000 OF DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT INDIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANT FUNDS. 

SANDOVAL PLEADED GUILTY TO EMBEZZLEMENT AND THEFT BACK IN AUGUST. FOLLOWING HER PRISON TERM, SHE WILL BE ON THREE YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE.