Three members of the Skull Valley Tribe of Utah pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of bank fraud. A lawyer who worked with the group also pleaded not guilty.

Marlinda Moon, Sammy Blackbear and Miranda Wash are accused of taking money from tribal bank accounts. Attorney Duncan Steadman is accused of helping them, at one point by creating a fake court document to convince a bank to gain access to the tribal funds.

At the time of the bank activity, the three claimed to be the rightfully elected leaders of the tribe. The Bureau of Indian Affairs did not recognize their legitimacy.

The three are political rivals to chairman Leon Bear, who was indicted separately for theft of tribal and federal funds and for tax fraud.

Get the Story:
Goshutes, lawyer plead innocent (The Salt Lake Tribune 1/10)

Relevant Documents:
Federal Indictment (December 17, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Skull Valley Goshute Tribe - http://www.skullvalleygoshutes.org

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