The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions and sentences of two men who were accused of stealing from the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township in Maine.

Robert L. Newell, the tribe's former governor, was convicted of 29 counts of conspiracy and misapplication of tribal and federal funds. James J. Parisi Jr., the tribe's former finance director, was found guilty of 11 counts of conspiracy and misapplication of funds.

On appeal, the 1st Circuit upheld all of the convictions except for one against Parisi, who is non-Indian. The court also reduced the restitution owed by Parisi by $129,044.

Newell is serving a five-year sentence and was ordered to pay $1.74 million in restitution. Parisi completed a one-year sentence last April, The Bangor Daily News reported.

Parisi still owes over $1.5 million in restitution.

Get the Story:
Federal appeals court upholds all but one conviction against Passamaquoddy embezzlers (The Bangor Daily News 7/13)

1st Circuit Decision:
Newell and Parisi v. US (July 11, 2011)

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Former Passamaquoddy leader sentenced for theft (4/28)
Former Passamaquoddy leader found guilty (11/21)
Ex-Passamaquoddy leader faces jury's fate (11/18)
Former Passamaquoddy leader on trial for fraud (11/04)
Former Passamaquoddy leader pleads not guilty (4/2)
Ex-Passamaquoddy governor accused of fraud (3/21)
Passamaquoddy Tribe ousts embattled governor (9/8)
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