The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday affirmed the conviction of a former employee of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.

Oldbear was convicted of five felony counts and one misdemeanor count of embezzling funds from the tribe's emergency assistance program. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay $17,065 in restitution to the tribe and perform 104 hours of community service because she "ran the show," a federal judge said in April 2008.

Oldbear claimed the judge made errors at the trial level but the 10th Circuit rejected her arguments. She was among dozens of Cheyenne-Arapaho tribal officials and employees who were indicted in connection with theft from the tribe.

Get the Story:
Court upholds embezzlement from tribes conviction (The Journal Record 6/12)

10th Circuit Decision:
US v. Oldbear (June 10, 2009)

Related Stories:
Judge: Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes open to thievery (4/23)