Tribe's business deal questioned

JUNE 19, 2001

Officials from the Seminole Tribe of Florida are trying to figure out how much tribal money was apparently used by suspended Chief Jim Billie to purchase a hotel in Nicaragua.

Billie in April told the tribe he and his administrator Tim Cox bought a hotel of their own accord. They said they would share the profits with the tribe, at no cost.

But documents suggest a more direct link to the tribe. Billie may have used $3.5 million in tribal funds to make the tribe the hidden owners of the hotel.

Billie was suspended indefinitely by the council last month.

Get the Story:
Tribe�s foreign deals get scrutiny (St. Petersburg Times 6/18)

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