A Polson man is facing up to $250,000 in fines and five years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Idaho to conspiracy to manufacture checks in the name of federally recognized tribal organization, including the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Justin Dennis Nichols, 35, will be sentenced Jan. 26. His co-defendant Roberta Jean Peone pleaded guilty last month to similar charges and will be sentenced on Dec. 15.

According to a federal indictment, Nichols and Peone used a printer, check stock and a check writing program to create fraudulent checks in the name of SK Construction, Coeur d’Alene Casino, CR Properties, Glacier Livestock, HTM Conservator Distribution, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

The checks ranged in value from $400 to $1,000. From August 2014 to December 2014 the duo wrote $20,772.32 worth of fraudulent checks, mostly to themselves or other individuals. The pair also tried to cash some of the checks at an Idaho casino.

Printing supplies used in the crimes will be forefeited to the federal government. The case was investigated by the Flathead Tribal Police, Coeur D’Alene Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or by email at [email protected].