A federal judge has set hearings to resolve two final pre-trial issues in a corruption scheme involving former officials of the Kickapoo Tribe of Texas and their associates.

Raul Garza, the former chief, and six others are charged with a variety of crimes, including embezzlement of more than $900,000 from the tribe, tax evasion and violating the civil rights of tribal members. Garza is the only Kickapoo charged -- all of the others are non-Indian former employees and non-Indian associates of the tribe.

U.S. District Judge Alia Moses Ludlum has dismissed a number of motions filed by the defendants. One was an attempt to dismiss the charges due to tribal sovereignty, The San Antonio Express-News reported.

The final two issues deal with a motion to suppress evidence, on the grounds that dissident tribal members allowed the FBI to search tribal offices, and a motion to subpoena records from the current tribal leadership.

Pending the resolution of the issues, Garza and the others will go to trial.

Get the Story:
Trial looms large for Kickapoo figures (The San Antonio Express-News 2/15)
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