Ninth Circuit Affirms Two Convictions in Tribal Embezzlement/Theft Schemes

Here are the materials in United States v. Aubrey:

Aubrey Opening Brief

US Answer Brief

Aubrey Reply

CA9 Opinion

An excerpt:

For purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 1163, funds paid from an Indian tribal organization to a contractor continue to be “property belonging to any Indian tribal organization,” as long as the tribal organization maintains sufficient supervision and control of disbursed funds and their ultimate use. Accordingly, we reject William Aubrey’s contention that the evidence presented at his trial was insufficient to prove that he converted or misused property belonging to an Indian tribal organization in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1163. We also deny Aubrey’s other challenges to his conviction and sentencing.

Here are the materials in United States v. Augare:

Aguare Opening Brief

US Answer Brief

Augare Reply

CA9 Opinion

From the court’s syllabus:

The panel affirmed a sentence in a case in which the district court applied a “sophisticated means” enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(10)(C) following the defendant’s guilty plea to conspiracy to defraud the United States, False Claims Act conspiracy, theft from an Indian tribe receiving federal funding, and federal income tax evasion.

The panel held that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it applied the “sophisticated means” enhancement to the defendant’s offense conduct. The panel explained that the coordinated and repetitive steps that the defendant took to transfer money from the Po’Ka project to his personal bank account are comparable in complexity and sophistication to the schemes held to warrant the enhancement in both this court’s precedent and persuasive authority from other circuits.

 

Federal Court Declines to Dismiss Indictment in Victimless Crime in Indian Country

Here are the materials in United States v. Augare (D. Mont.):

12 Augare Motion to Dismiss

13 US Response

17 Augare Reply

21 MJ Order Denying Motion to Dismiss

News coverage here. An excerpt:

The U.S. government can prosecute misdemeanor driving offenses on Indian reservations, a federal magistrate judge ruled Tuesday in rejecting a request to dismiss charges against a Blackfeet tribal leader and Montana state senator.U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong said the federal government shares jurisdiction with tribal governments. He rebuffed arguments by Shannon Augare’s attorney, who said the federal government’s case against the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council member and Democratic senator was an intrusion of tribal sovereignty.