The former executive director of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and misapplication of $475,000 in commission money.
Maggie Ahmaogak entered the plea Monday before U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage.
The 62-year-old Ahmaogak was head of the commission from 1990 to April 2007. Her husband, George Ahmaogak Sr., was elected North Slope Borough mayor five times but lost a re-election bid 12 days after she was indicted.
Federal prosecutors say Ahmaogak paid bills for plane tickets, groceries and doctors with money she misappropriated. They say she paid for gambling trips with a family member, bought three snowmachines and made a down payment on a Hummer.
Ahmaogak is scheduled to be sentenced July 23.
