The state of New Mexico tried an end-run around tribal sovereignty by hitting individual leaders of Nambe Pueblo with $4.7 million in tax assessments, according to a new lawsuit filed in state court.

The state alleged two former governors and two former council members were responsible for the taxes because they were in charge of a corporation that sold gasoline. The former leaders were subject to financial ruin in order to pressure the tribe into giving up the gas business, the lawsuit said.

One of the defendants is the state's former Taxation and Revenue secretary at the time of the assessments. He confirmed to The Santa Fe New Mexican that the state went after individual tribal members to get at the tribe.

The state of Kansas employed the same tactic for gasoline that was being distributed by a Nebraska tribe to other tribes in Kansas. The case is still in the state courts.

Get the Story:
Suit alleges officials targeted pueblo (The Santa Fe New Mexican 5/25)
pwpwd

Related Stories:
Distribution company pleads guilty for selling to tribe (5/19)
Court bars state from imposing gas tax on tribe (08/13)
BIA upholds cancellation of tribe's contract (8/7)
Pueblo agrees to stop distributing gasoline (4/9)
Court halts tax on tribe (5/18)
Winnebago leaders ordered arrested (4/12)
Fight expected over gas taxes (4/11)
Winnebago Tribe's gas trucks seized (4/10)