Law
Fake tribe allegedly behind arbitration scam


A group calling itself the Wampanoag Nation, Tribe of Grayhead, Wolf Band, is being accused in Utah of filing false claims against government officials, large corporations and other entities in an effort to collect millions of dollars.

The group, which is not federally recognized, allegedly set up a "Western Arbitration Council" to hear disputes. In the past seven years, the council has awarded damages in cases filed by tribal members.

No one appears to have paid the money but some of the targets say responding to the group wastes money and resources. Uintah County is asking a federal judge to declare the group to be fraudulent in a case being heard today.

The tribe is not affiliated with the federally recognized Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head in Massachusetts.

Get the Story:
State officials say tribe is a sham, fight millions in arbitration claims (The Salt Lake Tribune 2/23)