American Indian tribes have been caught misappropriating tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, according to internal tribal audits and other documents. But federal authorities do little about it — due to a lack of oversight, resources or political will, AP reports.
The result? Poor tribes like the Northern Arapaho of Wyoming suffer. One Arapaho manager allegedly pocketed money meant to buy meals for tribal elders. Another allegedly used funds from the reservation's diabetes program to subsidize personal shopping trips. And other members allegedly plundered the tribal welfare fund, then gambled the money away at one of the tribe's casinos. More. [BJS]
The result? Poor tribes like the Northern Arapaho of Wyoming suffer. One Arapaho manager allegedly pocketed money meant to buy meals for tribal elders. Another allegedly used funds from the reservation's diabetes program to subsidize personal shopping trips. And other members allegedly plundered the tribal welfare fund, then gambled the money away at one of the tribe's casinos. More. [BJS]
