Fort Belknap woman sentenced to three years probation, $13,135

Nicole Marie Brockie was found guilty and sentenced Thursday to three years probation and to pay a restitution of $13,135 for a charge of federal welfare assistance fraud Thursday.

The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation resident was originally indicted for two further charges — theft of federally provided welfare benefits by fraud and theft from an Indian tribal organization — but prosecutors agreed to drop the charges.

Between or around July 1, 2012, and June 14, 2014, in Billings, Chinook and Harlem, Brockie made false statements and representations, while applying for and taking part in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, through lying about her residence, household income and household composition and claiming to have no earned or unearned household income, according to the original indictment.

The theft from an Indian Tribal organization charge accused her of receiving TANF benefits from the Fort Belknap agency by claiming she lived in the service area.

She pleaded not guilty to all counts Feb. 24 and changed her plea to guilty for the federal welfare assistance fraud charge May 14.