Paiute leader admits $300K theft

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Evelyn James, 54, of Tuba City, and a tribal council member of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in Arizona, pleaded guilty Wednesday to false statements, theft from a tribal government receiving federal funds and money laundering.

James admitted stealing almost $300,000 in tribal funds and is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28 before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Martone in Phoenix, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

James intermittently served as the president of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and in that capacity, completed, signed and submitted false statements and records to obtain funds for the tribe from the Community Oriented Policing Services program. The U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS program provides financial assistance to eligible police departments to help improve community policing efforts.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, James submitted falsified accountings in which she asked for reimbursement from the COPS program for expenditures that were never made by the tribe. The false submissions indicated that the tribe hired and paid three police officers when no peace officers were ever hired, trained or employed.

Through James’ false submissions, the tribe wrongfully received approximately $224,997 in grant funds from the COPS program. Beginning in 2005, James wrote checks to herself from money drawn on the tribal bank account. During 2005, James stole approximately $300,000 in tribal funds in this fashion.

A conviction for false statements carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both. A conviction for theft from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

A conviction for transactional money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.