![](https://www.indianz.com/News/2014/08/19/guardiansproject.jpg)
The logo for the Guardians Project. Image from U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana
Another defendant has been found guilty as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe affecting the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana. After a three-day trial in Montana, John Grimson Lyon was convicted of wire fraud, false claims and theft of government property. He is a former Bureau of Land Management official who covered for a subordinate who left his post in Virginia to do contract work for the tribe. The subordinate, Larry Ray Denny, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, false claims, theft of government property and falsely representing outside income. He received a cash award, authorized by Lyon, despite abandoning his federal job for Montana. “We prosecute people who steal and cheat the taxpayers every day," U.S. Attorney Mike Cotter said in a press release "Federal officials, regardless of their power or position, will be held to the same standard. The jury’s verdict sends a message. ‘It’s not your money. You are trusted to protect it. Do your duty or we will do ours.’” At least 18 people on the Rocky Boy's Reservation have pleaded guilty or have been convicted as part of the investigation. The effort -- known as the The Guardians Project in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana -- has put the state on top of a nationwide list of judicial districts with the most government corruption prosecutions. Get the Story:
US official guilty of covering for ex-worker who kept salary (AP 3/26)
Senior BLM official convicted in Montana for fraud and theft (MTN News 3/26)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Another guilty plea from Chippewa Cree Tribe
corruption case (3/19) Defendant disputes plea in Chippewa Cree Tribe corruption case (3/16)
Former Chippewa Cree Tribe chairman sentenced to 34 months (3/11)
Leader of Chippewa Cree Tribe ousted from office for 3rd time (3/4)
Minor setback in corruption probe on Rocky Boy's Reservation (2/23)
Chippewa Cree Tribe returns ousted leader to chairman's post (02/05)
Another guilty conviction and indictment for Chippewa Cree Tribe (1/30)
Former Chippewa Cree Tribe chair pleads guilty in corruption case (12/09)
Ousted leader of Chippewa Cree Tribe denies theft accusations (12/3)
Leaders of Chippewa Cree Tribe try to remove chairman again (12/2)
Chippewa Cree Tribe swears in chairman more than a year later (11/24)
Former chairman of Chippewa Cree Tribe enters guilty plea (11/13)
Republican lawmaker for reservations has felony conviction (11/10)
Former chairman of Chippewa Cree Tribe faces more charges (10/31)
Former health executive from Chippewa Cree Tribe sentenced (10/23)
Former chairman of Chippewa Cree Tribe to enter guilty plea (09/25)
Guardians Project brings more tribal corruption cases in Montana (9/24)
Another guilty plea comes in Chippewa Cree Tribe corruption case (08/19)
Chippewa Cree man sentenced to 7 1/2 years in corruption case (8/15)
Chippewa Cree Tribe takes Original Americans Foundation money (08/01)
Former employee sentenced for theft from Chippewa Cree Tribe (7/29)
Tribal corruption cases put Montana on top of prosecution list (7/14)
Ex-employee found guilty of stealing from Chippewa Cree Tribe (06/27)
Another person pleads guilty for Chippewa Cree Tribe scandal (5/13)
Former lawmaker pleads guilty in Chippewa Cree corruption case (04/03)
More criminal cases filed in thefts from Chippewa Cree Tribe (10/30)
Chairman of Chippewa Cree Tribe blocked from taking office (10/08)
Group forms to battle corruption on reservations in Montana (10/4)
New indictment in theft case involving Chippewa Cree Tribe (10/2)
Chippewa Cree Tribe delays swearing-in of chair amid challenge (08/08)