Ex-Seminole council member indicted for bribery

Thursday, March 13, 2008  

A former council member for the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma was indicted on federal bribery charges on Wednesday.

Ricky Van Deer, 48, is accused of taking $44,100 in bribes from Ivy Ong, the tribe's former casino developer. Deer used his position on the tribal council and with the tribe's business arm to steer contracts to Ong, according to federal prosecutors.

Ong pleaded guilty last September to making illegal payments to tribal officials, who were unnamed at the time. Deer is the first tribal official charged in connection with the bribery scheme.

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Ex-tribal official indicted in bribery (The Oklahoman 3/13)
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