Seminole Tribe finally fires Jim Billie

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2003

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has finally gotten rid of famed chief Jim Billie.

The tribal council voted 4-0 to remove Billie. He had been suspended on allegations of misuse of tribal funds.

According to The St. Petersburg Times, tribal council members felt Billie lied to them about the funds when he testified in a federal case involving three former associates. The ex-employees were cleared of stealing from the tribe. Billie has never been charged.

According to the paper, Billie in a closed tribal council hearing / meeting last week said he used $80,000 in tribal funds to bail two of the ex-employees out of a jail in Nicaragua, where Billie opened a business to operate an Internet gambling site.

In total, Billie was charged with misusing upwards of $20 million.

Get the Story:
Seminole council fires James Billie as chairman (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 3/19)
Seminoles sack chairman James Billie (The St. Petersburg Times 3/19)

Relevant Links:
Seminole Tribe - http://www.seminoletribe.com

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