The Bureau of Indian Affairs is conducting an emergency financial review of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians after tribal officials raised allegations of mismanagement.

Five council members approached the BIA with concerns that tribal employees may be stealing or misusing tribal funds. Tens of thousands of dollars are allegedly missing from the tribe's general fund.

The BIA sent a team to the reservation on Monday to review the tribe's accounts. The review will be followed by a detailed audit by the Interior Department's Inspector General's Office. The tribe has agreed to freeze federal contracting and spending until the audit is completed.

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Tribe's accounts are under scrutiny (The San Diego Union-Tribune 4/12)