SPOKANE, WA – A Yakima man pleaded guilty Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington to stealing cultural items from the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.
Kevin William Wissman, 61, admitted to one misdemeanor count of theft from an Indian tribal organization. According to court documents, Wissman stole five moccasins and one beaded glove on October 30, 2020, from a display in Heritage Hall at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights, Washington. The items, housed inside a shadow box behind a glass display, have not been recovered.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker described the theft as devastating for the Kalispel Tribe and the families who lost heirlooms. Barker stated that his office remains committed to prosecuting thefts of Indian cultural property.
FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington emphasized the significance of the stolen items, calling them “priceless and irreplaceable pieces of the Kalispel’s history.” He reiterated the FBI’s dedication to working with tribal and federal partners to deter similar crimes.
Nick Pierre, a Kalispel Tribal Council Member and General Manager of Northern Quest Resort & Casino, expressed gratitude to law enforcement for identifying the perpetrator but noted that justice remains incomplete as the stolen items have not been returned. The Kalispel Tribe of Indians is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to their recovery.
United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice accepted Wissman’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
The FBI and Kalispel Tribal Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Vander Giessen is prosecuting.