SPOKANE, Wash. — A former senior official within the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ child welfare system has been sentenced to federal prison after a jury found she carried out a years-long scheme to divert money intended for children in foster care into her personal accounts.
On January 21, 2026, Tawhnee Willow Colvin, of Davenport, Washington, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison following her conviction on twenty-six counts of bank fraud and embezzlement from a tribal organization. The sentence also includes five years of supervised release and $100,830 in restitution to the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
Colvin was convicted after a jury trial in September 2025, where evidence showed she exploited her role as Assistant Director of the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). In that position, she had direct access to a tribal bank account holding per-capita funds designated exclusively for the care of children placed in temporary tribal custody.
Between October 2019 and November 2023, Colvin repeatedly abused that access. Trial evidence established that she conducted more than seventy fraudulent transactions, initially moving small sums before escalating to transfers of thousands of dollars at a time. In total, she siphoned over $50,000 through electronic transfers into her personal bank account and withdrew more than $50,000 in cash from the same DCFS account.
Federal prosecutors emphasized that the scheme continued even after Colvin was terminated from her position on October 23, 2023. Despite losing her job, she retained enough access to continue fraudulently transferring tribal funds for personal use, further draining resources intended for children in foster care.
During sentencing, the court described the evidence of guilt as overwhelming, noting that the funds were explicitly earmarked for vulnerable children and that Colvin instead redirected them for her own benefit. The court highlighted the prolonged nature of the theft and the calculated progression of the transactions as aggravating factors.
Prosecutors characterized the conduct as a profound breach of trust, pointing out that the full scope of harm may never be known. Funds meant to support housing, care, and stability for children under tribal protection were instead diverted over a period of years, leaving the account nearly depleted.
Investigators also stressed the broader implications of the case. Financial crimes involving child welfare systems undermine both public trust and the ability of agencies to meet the basic needs of children already facing instability. In this case, the embezzlement directly impacted resources reserved for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with prosecution handled by federal attorneys in the Eastern District of Washington. The sentencing closes the criminal phase of the case, formally establishing accountability for a sustained abuse of authority within a child services system entrusted with public and tribal funds.
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“Prosecutors characterized the conduct as a profound breach of trust, pointing out that the full scope of harm may never be known.”
The five years of supervised release and $100,830 in restitution is appropriate for this case but I’m hoping the 1 year prison sentence is enough because of the quote above.
I know a bit about DCFS’s and they have enough problems already. Something like this probably just exacerbated the stress in that office. Many DCFS workers are overworked and some are underpaid. I don’t know how many of them keep up with the workload. The problem is particularly bad in my state:
https://arkansasadvocate.com/2025/05/28/staffing-struggles-continue-for-arkansas-foster-care-system/
It is almost as bad in other states. These problems create other problems that affect child child welfare in many ways.
I’m glad this woman was caught.
Thank you for this report.
You’re very welcome, Chris — that’s a very fair concern, and you’re right to focus on the line about harm that may never be fully known. When funds intended for child welfare are diverted, the impact isn’t always visible in a single case file, but it compounds stress in systems that are already stretched thin. Many DCFS offices operate under heavy caseloads, staffing shortages, and constant pressure, and misconduct like this only deepens those strains. Accountability matters not just for punishment, but for restoring trust in systems that children depend on. I appreciate you taking the time to share that perspective and engage so thoughtfully with the report. Thanks again, Chris. I hope you have a great night. 😎
You’re welcome, John, and I appreciate your thoughtful reply.
“Accountability matters not just for punishment, but for restoring trust in systems that children depend on.”
Amen to that.
Thank you for your kind words, John, and I hope you have a great night as well! 🙂