Full Post Style

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KIFI) — The high-profile embezzlement case against a former commander of the Idaho American Legion accused of embezzling over a million dollars from the non-profit is heading to trial. Charles Thomas Abrahamson, a former commander of the Idaho American Legion, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boise on charges of wire fraud and tax fraud, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced Monday.

The indictment alleges that Abrahamson used his position within the organization to steal more than $1,454,025 over seven years. Abramson was employed by the Idaho American Legion from approximately 2017 to April 2024. During that time, he served in various leadership capacities, including adjutant and commander, which gave him direct access to and control over the nonprofit’s financial accounts.

Starting around 2018 and continuing until his suspension in April 2024, Abrahamson is accused of knowingly devising a scheme to defraud the American Legion and another individual. Abrahamson allegedly made unauthorized transfers directly to his personal financial accounts, paying off his personal credit cards, charging unauthorized expenses, and making ATM withdrawals from the organization’s accounts, all for his personal use and gain.

His alleged criminal conduct came to light around April 2024. According to reports by the Idaho Statesman, Abrahamson was suspended from his position at the Idaho American Legion that month, and two days later, the Idaho State Police executed a search warrant on his home, recovering a variety of American Legion property.

Beyond the embezzlement, Abrahamson is also charged with three counts of tax fraud for filing false federal tax returns for the years 2020, 2022, and 2023, which falsified his total income.

The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation, seeking to recover at least $1,454,025 in property traceable to the wire fraud charges.

If convicted, Abrahamson faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charges and up to three years for each count of tax fraud. He also faces an order of restitution for the losses incurred by the victims of the scheme.

In his release, U.S. Attorney Davis commended the excellent investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, which led to the charges. A federal district court judge will ultimately determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Powerball Jackpot has soared to $1.10 billion, making it the second largest of the year.

This is the 12th jackpot to cross one billion dollars in the past five years.

Though no one took home the Powerball jackpot, some didn’t leave empty-handed.

Across the country, 5 ticket holders won a million dollars, and 2 people won two million.

The next drawing is set for this evening, Monday, December 15th.

CHALLIS, Idaho (KIFI) – Millions of dollars are headed to rural Idaho counties after the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act passed Congress.

Local News 8 spoke with local county officials to learn how the program impacts rural communities across Idaho.

The Secure Rural Schools program provides vital funding for rural counties with significant swathes of public land that cannot be taxed. It was created in 2000, after declining timber harvest revenues created major funding gaps for counties with large tracts of national forest.

“I can’t understate the significance of this to rural counties in Idaho. Custer County is 97 percent public lands, and we just don’t have the opportunity to expand,” said Custer County Commissioner William Naillon. “The income gathered from programs like these is absolutely essential in keeping our county running.”

Custer County is home to beautiful stretches of forest in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The county relies heavily on the Secure Rural Schools program to fund its schools, roads and infrastructure.

“What SRS equates to for the Lost River Highway District and the Custer County Road and Bridge is about a half $1 million each for them, and then another close to a half $1 million for School Districts 181 and 182,” Naillon continued. “So it’s about $1.5 million here in Custer County.”

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) led the push to reauthorize the program, which expired in 2023.

“The SRS program is vital to maintaining schools, roads and emergency response services in rural, forested counties. We have a responsibility to these communities who house large swaths of untaxable federal land,” Crapo said in a recent statement.  “The passage of this legislation will provide retroactive pay to counties that faced deep cuts since the program’s expiration at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and restore funding levels for FY 2026.  I continue to press for a long-term solution to provide Idaho’s county governments with more certainty.”

The last year Secure Rural Schools was authorized, in 2023, the program paid out $22.8 million to 34 Idaho counties.

Final funding will be set by a “formula that includes federal land acreage, economic activity, timber harvest levels, and other factors that vary from county to county each year,” according to Crapo’s office.

The Secure Rural School Reauthorization Act also significantly impacts Fremont, Clark, Lemhi and Teton counties in eastern Idaho.

“We put it toward special projects, so if we got a grant to rebuild a bridge or stretch of road, we use that as our match to help fund those projects,” said Fremont County Clerk Abbie Mace, who retired Friday after an exemplary career.

“We don’t plan on it until they [Congress] actually send the money to us, and then we open our budget. It’s never guaranteed,” she said.