Coushatta Tribe elects figure in Abramoff scandal as chairman

Tuesday, June 4, 2013  

Lovelin Poncho, one of the figures in the Jack Abramoff scandal, has been elected chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.

Poncho served as chairman when the tribe spent $32 million on lobbying fees for Abramoff and Abramoff's associates. He declined to run for re-election after the scandal broke in early 2004, and a new slate of leaders who opposed Abramoff took over.

But one of those leaders, Kevin Sickey declined to run for re-election as chairman. That gave an opening for Poncho to return to tribal politics.

Poncho served as chairman for 20 years prior to the Abramoff scandal.

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Lovelin Poncho was re-elected chairman (AP / The Lake Charles American Press 6/4)