A tobacco company based on the Yakama Nation in Washington owes $58 million in back taxes and penalties to the federal government, a judge ruled.

The King Mountain Tobacco Company cited the Yakama Treaty of 1855 and the General Allotment Act in its bid to gain an exemption from federal excise taxes. Judge Rosanna Peterson rejected those arguments in a decision in January and quantified how much the company owes in a decision last week.

Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, US v. King Mountain Tobacco.

Separately, the company is fighting the state of Washington over the requirements of a multi-state tobacco settlement.

Get the Story:
King Mountain Tobacco must pay $58M in taxes, penalties (The Yakima Herald-Republic 9/5)

Related Stories:
9th Circuit hears case over Yakama Nation tobacco manufacturer (8/29)
Judge subjects Yakama Nation business to tobacco settlement (4/9)