Openings & Closings | Regulation

Trial into Choctaw Nation fraud winds down with final testimony

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Jason Merida, the former head of construction for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is seen on a 2009 hunting excursion that was financed by a company that defrauded the tribe. Photo from Pueblo of Acoma Big Game Trophy Hunts

Attorneys are due to present closing arguments today in a corruption trial linked to the growing gaming empire of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Jason Merida, the former head of construction for the tribe, is accused of accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts, trips and other items of value from companies that held casino contracts. He testified in his own defense on Wednesday and said the gifts did not affect his work.

“Yes, I accepted the gifts, but they didn’t influence my decision-making process,” Merida said in court, The Tulsa World reported. “I didn’t have the authority to make decisions on which vendors we would use, so they couldn’t.”

Merida's attorneys have instead pointed the blame at Chief Gary Batton, who was assistant chief until April, and former chief Greg Pyle, who retired in April. Both leaders testified in the trial earlier this week but neither have been charged with any crimes although they also accepted gifts from the contractors.

"There is overwhelming evidence that former Choctaw Assistant Chief Gary Batton, former Choctaw Chief Greg Pyle, and other listed government witnesses are unindicted co-conspirators," Merida's attorneys wrote in a November 9 brief .

Federal prosecutors tried to prevent Merida's defense from telling the jury about Batton and Pyle and their alleged involvement. But Chief Judge James H. Payne denied the government's motion on Wednesday.

The jury will be handed the case after closing arguments today.

Get the Story:
Former Choctaw official testifies he accepted gifts, cash from contractors (The Tulsa World 11/20)

Relevant Documents:
Indictment: US v. Jason Brett Merida | Record of FBI Interview | Memorandum of Interview from Department of Treasury | Trial Brief by US Attorney's Office | Jason Merida Brief Accusing Batton and Pyle | US Motion Seeking to Prevent Jason Merida from Bringing up Batton and Pyle | Flintco Statement | Michael Burrage Email: Batton and Pyle Accepted Gifts