A federal grand jury has indicted a Snoqualmie man for fraud, nine counts in total, for activities dating back to 2005. Darryl Lee Wright, 46, pleaded not guilty on Thursday, Jan. 29, to five counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and two counts of making false statements to government agencies.

Wright, a Snoqualmie resident and chairperson of the city’s planning commission, is accused of “making false and conflicting claims to various agencies in an effort to fraudulently obtain benefits,” according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. He is “alleged to have fraudulently received more than $250,000 in benefits.”

His sister, Karen M. Bevens, 43, of Duvall, was also indicted for one charge.

According to the indictment, the two collaborated on a “scheme,” the essence of which was “to obtain program benefits, to include cash payments and services, for which they would not have otherwise been eligible had they provided true and accurate representations regarding the physical condition and capabilities of (Wright) and the provision of support and caretaker services actually provided by (Bevens.)”

The document states that Wright made false claims of receiving “traumatic brain injury” following a 2005 incident that occurred while he was serving with the Idaho National Guard in Iraq, and that he filed for federal disability payments in 2010 on the basis of the injury. The document further states that Wright submitted invoices  for a full-time caregiver, claiming he was “severly disabled by PTSD symptoms.”

According to the indictment, Wright applied for and received unemployment benefits in October, 2012, and “falsely certified to the Washington State Employment Security Department he was actively seeking employment and applying for jobs when in truth and in fact, he was collecting disability payments based on his claims that he could not work due to a disability.”

In response to a request for comment, Wright wrote Jan. 30, “Yesterday, we contested all charges.” He referred additional questions to his attorney, Chris Black.

If Wright is found guilty, he could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

Wright is listed as Chief Development Officer of Trefoil Consulting in the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce business directory.

His trial is scheduled for March 31, said Emily Langlie, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.