Former Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation nutritionist faces federal theft charge

A former nutritionist with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is accused of using his position to embezzle at least $5,000 in federal grant money.

A U.S. District Court grand jury July 17 indicted Matthew Waits, 39, of Topeka, on a charge of one count of theft in the amount of $5,000 or more concerning a program receiving federal funds, said a news release put out Monday by the office of Kate Brubacher, U.S. attorney for Kansas.

Waits is accused of using his position as program manager and director of the PBPN's diabetes prevention program to commit embezzlement between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, the indictment said.

Waits has made his first appearance in the case in U.S. District Court, the news release said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting the case, it said.

The FBI and the inspector general's office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are investigating the case, the release said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Former Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation nutritionist faces federal theft charge