The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE — A former purchasing agent for the Jicarilla Apache Nation has pleaded guilty to theft in the embezzlement of $23,000 from the northwestern New Mexico tribe.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 46-year-old Vanessa Cohoe pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Albuquerque and that a plea agreement requires her to serve a probation term and pay $5,000 in restitution to the tribe.

The office says $5,000 is the difference between the total of unauthorized purchases made by Cohoe and the amount that the tribe received in reimbursement by its insurer.

According to the office, Cohoe used the money she stole to make unauthorized purchases for gift cards, alcohol, clothes and cosmetics for herself and her family.