The chairman of the Skull Valley Goshute Tribe of Utah pleaded guilty on Thursday to filing a false tax return.

Leon Bear agreed to pay $13,000 in back taxes and repay the tribe about $30,000 in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Charges of embezzlement and fraud will be dropped.

Bear will be sentenced June 27. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will recommend he serve a minimal prison term.

It is not clear how the development will affect the lease Bear signed with eight private utility companies to store up to 44,000 tons of nuclear waste on the reservation. Tribal activists have been challenging Bear's leadership.

Get the Story:
Bear pleads guilty to U.S. tax charge (The Salt Lake Tribune 4/15)
Goshute chairman to repay $30,000 he got illegally (The Deseret Morning News 4/15)

Public Decision:
In the matter of Private Fuel Storage (February 24, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Skull Valley Goshute Tribe - http://www.skullvalleygoshutes.org
Private Fuel Storage - http://www.privatefuelstorage.com

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