A former U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer in Montana, Nathan J. Snead, has pleaded guilty to charges of theft of government money related to falsifying time and attendance records. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
Snead, 47, from Thompson Falls, entered the guilty plea to theft charges and faces potential penalties including a prison term of up to ten years, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto presided over the plea hearing. Sentencing by U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen is scheduled to occur on August 27, 2025. Snead was released under conditions awaiting further legal proceedings.
According to government allegations submitted in court documents, Snead was obliged to work a standard 40-hour week. The charges involved the misuse of administratively uncontrollable overtime pay, which is intended to compensate law enforcement officers for unexpected extended duty hours. Snead's rate for this overtime pay was set at 15% in 2023, requiring him to justify additional hours weekly to maintain the rate.
The falsification involved Snead's time documentation where he recorded his regular and overtime hours, affirming their accuracy through signed certifications. These records allegedly included justification for overtime with signed assertions of performing uncontrollable administrative duties.
In response to tips regarding Snead's timekeeping claims, agents, on May 2, 2023, placed a GPS tracking device on his government-issued vehicle. The data revealed the vehicle remained at Snead's residence during periods he reported working. The investigation found multiple instances where Snead claimed both regular and overtime hours while his patrol vehicle was stationary at home.
An analysis of Snead’s work performance between 2021 and 2023 showed lower productivity levels in terms of incident reports and violation notices compared to his peers. The U.S. government estimates that Snead's false claims led to a theft of approximately $18,645.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the investigation conducted by the U.S. Forest Service.