Two accountants face civil charges over an alleged tax fraud scheme involving 32 members of the wealthy Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

The Department of Justice said Kenneth Sorenson and Stephen Drake set up a scheme that allowed the tribal members to skirt federal taxes on their per capita gaming revenues. The accountants received $2 million for the efforts, federal prosecutors said.

According to court documents, the 152 members of the tribe have received $428,969 in per cap payments. The tribe, however, did not participate in the tax scheme or approve it.

Criminal charges have not been filed. Sorenson told The Los Angeles Times the allegations were false.

Get the Story:
Feds Sue 2 of Chumash Tribe's Accountants Over Alleged Tax Scam (The Los Angeles Times 8/4)
pwday

Relevant Links:
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians - http://www.santaynezchumash.org

Related Stories:
Chumash Chair: Tribes are sovereign governments (03/20)
Chumash Tribe hires big guns for land-into-trust bid (3/16)
County to file letter opposing Chumash Tribe land bid (08/23)
Chumash chair says county declares war on tribe (08/18)
Editorial: Many reasons to oppose trust land bid (8/11)
County opposes Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust (8/10)
Editorial: Chumash Tribe doesn't need more land (8/8)
County board joins Chumash land-into-trust fight (07/27)
Discussions ongoing over Chumash trust land bid (7/21)
Chumash Tribe makes another trust land request (07/20)
Residents fight Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust (7/19)
County reconsiders Chumash land-into-trust deal (7/12)
Editorial: Deadline needed for deal on trust land (06/23)
Chumash Tribe near deal with county on trust land (6/22)
Editorial: Indian wars continue in Santa Ynez Valley (05/27)
Chumash Tribe makes new land-into-trust request (05/13)
Davy Crockett actor drops Chumash Tribe from plan (03/04)
Appeal filed over Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust (02/25)
Editorial: Don't ask tribe to give up sovereign rights (2/24)
Editorial: Chumash Tribe and county make progress (2/17)
Chumash tribe and county agree on trust land (2/15)
County to talk with Chumash Tribe over trust land (02/10)
BIA approves Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust request (01/26)
Conviction of tribal official spurs new probes (01/13)
LA Times: Explosion of wealth changes Chumash Tribe (12/03)
Neighbors fear Chumash Tribe's development plans (11/24)
California to review tribal gaming regulators (11/16)
NIGC worried about Chumash Tribe's regulation (10/29)
Schwarzenegger wants gaming tribes to open books (10/20)
Chumash Tribe criticized for regulating casino (10/19)
Chumash Tribe still in talks for major development (10/05)
Editorial: The never ending Indian wars in California (06/30)
Residents challenge county to fight Chumash Tribe (06/16)
Chumash Tribe's development deal stirs opposition (06/07)
Davy Crockett actor under fire for working with tribe (05/17)
Chumash Tribe to turn land into housing community (03/16)
Once outspoken, county official now mum about tribe (03/23)
County official won't resign for calling tribe uneducated (03/10)
Elected official called Calif. tribe unsophisticated (3/5)