The Navajo Nation ousted local officials in Tuba City, Arizona, after they rewarded themselves with more than $80,000 in bonuses, the Associated Press reports.

Each of the five officials on Tuba City’s Council of Naat’aani received a $3,000 check a day after tribal members approved a sales tax in January 2010. More checks followed in the coming weeks.

The scheme unraveled when Charlene Nez, the secretary-treasurer of the council, started to feel guilty about the payments and refused to sign off on the checks. She said other council officials went over her head and continued to give themselves money.

“I felt bad for people,” Nez told the Associated Press. “How come we get the bonuses?”

The Navajo Nation has ordered all five council officials repay the money.

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Navajo Nation: Leaders removed after using sales tax for bonuses (AP 3/12)