Two Western Washington Women Indicted for Unauthorized Use of Northern Quest Resort & Casino Bank Account

Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted Kaydee Jean Baker and Beth Ann Hayes, both of Thurston County, Washington, for bank fraud in connection with the unauthorized use of a bank account belonging to Kalispel Tribe's Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

The Indictment announced today charges Kaydee Jean Baker and Beth Ann Hayes, both of Thurston County, Washington, with ten counts of bank fraud. The Indictment alleges that Baker and Hayes ordered checks displaying a routing number and bank account number for a bank account that did not belong to them, but instead belonged to Kalispel Tribe's Northern Quest Resort & Casino. The indictment alleges that Baker and Hayes then used the checks drawing from that account, attempting to use the funds in that account for their own financial gain. According to the indictment, Baker and Hayes wrote over $30,000 in checks fraudulently drawn on the Northern Quest Resort & Casino bank account.

"The integrity of our financial system is essential to keeping communities safe and strong," said United States Attorney Waldref. "My office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to hold fraudsters accountable when they attempt to abuse the financial system in order to line their own pockets."

The fraud charges carry sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison as well as restitution for fraudulently-obtained funds. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Kalispell Tribal Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frieda K. Zimmerman.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Case No: 2:24-CR-8-TOR