Former AMA board chairman sentenced to prison
Former American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Board Chairman Dal Smilie recently was sentenced to eight months in prison and two years probation for embezzling more than $100,000 through fraudulent travel reimbursement claims submitted to the AMA over a period of years ending in 2007.
Smilie pleaded guilty to felony counts of grand theft by deception and of receiving stolen property, an AMA press release stated.
Speaking to the judge before his sentencing, Smilie said, “I’ve got much to apologize for, and many people to apologize to, including AMA members, AMA staff, my fellow board members and volunteers,” he said. “I’ve let them down.”
According to the AMA press release, Smilie acknowledged his fraudulent travel-reimbursement claims stemmed from his time as an AMA board member. “I overstated travel claims,” he said. “I co-mingled funds. That’s misappropriation. That’s theft. That’s a breach of trust, and I’m sorry for that.”
