WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — A Navajo Nation trial that was expected to last more than two months won’t be necessary now that all the defendants have pleaded guilty to their roles in a scheme to divert tribal funds.
Two Navajo Nation council delegates who were scheduled to go on trial next week pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit bribery.
Leonard Teller and George Arthur admitted in Window Rock District Court to conspiring with other Navajo lawmakers to unlawfully authorize payments for each other’s families between 2005 and 2009. As part of the agreement, each defendant will have six counts bribery dismissed with prejudice.
Both men could be sentenced to probation, community service or up to 180 days in jail.
They were originally scheduled to go on trial Oct. 14 — along with Speaker Johnny Naize, delegate David Tom and former delegate Ernest Yazzie Jr. Prosecutors said trying them together would save tens of thousands of dollars in court expenses, jury fees and prosecution.
Naize and Tom both pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to commit bribery. Naize initially faced 11 charges of conspiracy and bribery. The guilty plea would have forced Naize from his position as speaker and a tribal lawmaker had he not resigned a day earlier, the tribe’s elections office said.
Yazzie, who was accused of siphoning nearly $100,000 in tribal funds, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery Sept. 17. He was charged with 24 counts that included receiving kickbacks, bribery and submitting false applications for discretionary funding. His case was the first criminal case brought by prosecutors who took over an investigation of the council’s use of discretionary funds in 2011.
The spending scheme involved the five defendants, former legislative leader Lawrence Morgan and other current and former tribal lawmakers, prosecutors said. The Navajo Nation Supreme Court criticized the spending in a 2011 ruling and banned any further use of discretionary funds until guidelines are established to regulate the use. The discretionary fund was intended to allow delegates to help tribal members facing emergencies or financial hardship.
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