UPDATED: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 --- 4:30p.m.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A federal judge has sent a Ho-Chunk tribal member accused of bribing a tribal legislator to prison.
U.S. District Judge William Conley on Wednesday sentenced 61-year-old Timothy Whiteagle of Black River Falls to 10 years behind bars and three years of supervised release. Conley also ordered him to pay $162,854 to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to federal prosecutors, Whiteagle served as a consultant for businesses looking to provide check cashing and ATMs at the tribe's casinos and tribal mortgages.
They say he provided a number of lavish gifts to tribal legislator Clarence Pettibone, including a Pontiac Firebird, campaign contributions and vacations, in exchange for Pettibone's help steering contracts to Whiteagle's clients.
Whiteagle's attorney didn't immediately return a message.
Pettibone was sentenced to five years in prison in July.
Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.
______________________________________
Posted Thursday, August 2, 2012 --- 2:31 p.m.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Ho-Chunk tribal member has been convicted of 12 federal charges after prosecutors said he received more than $3 million from companies wanting to do business with the tribe.
A jury found 60-year-old Timothy Whiteagle of Black River Falls guilty Wednesday of all 12 counts. A Wisconsin State Journal report says the charges included bribery conspiracy and filing false tax returns.
Prosecutors say Whiteagle worked as a covert lobbyist for several financial companies. He and others were also accused of giving cash and gifts to an elected official in the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Defense attorney Glenn C. Reynolds said Thursday he's not sure the jury understood how native Americans work together, share things and help one another.
Whiteagle faces up to 111 years in prison when he's sentenced Oct. 24.
Copyright 2012: Associated Press
