Great Falls, Montana – A former bookkeeper from Poplar has been sentenced to federal prison after authorities said she carried out a years-long embezzlement scheme involving fraudulent checks, altered payroll payments, and unauthorized company spending.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot, 36-year-old Parker Lee Gray Hawk received a sentence of six months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Gray Hawk previously pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of wire fraud.
The sentence was handed down by Brian M. Morris.
Federal prosecutors said the investigation began after Fort Peck Manufacturing Inc. and its bank uncovered suspicious financial activity connected to company accounts.
Investigation Uncovered Fraudulent Checks And Unauthorized Spending
According to court documents, company officials became concerned in late 2023 after discovering their bank account had fallen into a negative balance tied to questionable transactions.
Investigators said some of the suspicious checks contained unusual round-number amounts and lacked normal tax withholdings. Authorities also discovered that all of the questionable checks had been signed by Gray Hawk.
A detailed review of banking records allegedly revealed multiple checks written to individuals who were not employees of Fort Peck Manufacturing.
Law enforcement later interviewed several of those individuals. According to investigators, the non-employees said Gray Hawk asked them to cash the checks, keep a portion of the money, and return the remaining funds to her.
Federal authorities also accused Gray Hawk of using company credit cards and accounts to make unauthorized personal purchases and payments.
Investigators said the transactions included online purchases through Amazon along with electronic payments sent through Apple, CashApp, PayPal, and Western Union.
According to prosecutors, Gray Hawk embezzled approximately $166,156.47 from the company between 2021 and 2023.
That total allegedly included $98,644.28 tied to fraudulent checks and another $67,512.19 involving unauthorized electronic transactions.
As part of the sentence, the court ordered Gray Hawk to pay $131,901.57 in restitution.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office following an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice.
Federal officials said the case highlights how financial fraud committed by trusted employees can severely damage businesses and create significant financial losses over extended periods of time.
