One of the office buildings owned by the 19 Pueblo tribes at the site of the former Albuquerque Indian School in New Mexico. Photo from IndianPueblos.Com
Bruce Sanchez, a former governor of Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison on Wednesday for stealing more than $3.5 million from his own people. Sanchez served as president and CEO of the Indian Pueblos Federal Development Corp. Instead of helping the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico pursue economic development opportunities, he admitted that he stole from the tribes and failed to file tax returns on his illegal proceeds. According to federal authorities, Sanchez approved false and inflated invoices that were paid to a company controlled by Thomas Keesing, a non-Indian businessman who has pleaded guilty for his role in the crime but has yet to be sentenced. The corporation estimated that it lost $20 million due to missed opportunities, legal fees and other problems associated with the scheme, The Albuquerque Journal reported. Sanchez and Thomas Keesing, a non-Indian businessman, were accused of stealing the money from the Indian Pueblos Federal Development Corp., an entity set up by the 19 Pueblo tribes of New Mexico. Both were due to go to trial next month but they will now apparently plead guilty, the paper reports. Get the Story:
Former CEO of pueblo corporation sentenced to 51 months in federal prison (The Albuquerque Journal 9/17)
Pueblo leader gets prison term in $3.5M embezzling scheme (AP 9/17)
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