Openings & Closings | Regulation

Former leader of Choctaw Nation testifies in criminal trial

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Former Choctaw Nation Chief Greg Pyle and Chief Greg Batton arrive at the federal courthouse in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Pyle is on the left in the left picture. Batton walks alone in the right picture. Photos by Aron Allen / Facebook

MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma -- Greg Pyle, the former longtime chief of the Choctaw Nation, took the stand on Monday in a criminal trial linked to the tribe's growing gaming enterprise.

Pyle led his tribe for 17 years before retiring in April. During that time, the tribe opened, remodeled and expanded several casinos, including one project in which the tribe was cheated on the purchase of $8.5 million in steel.

Pyle admitted that he accepted campaign contributions from outside companies that did casino work for the tribe. Six former executives and former employees from those companies -- Builders Steel and Flintco -- have pleaded guilty for their role in defrauding the tribe.

Some of those donations came during Pyle's fundraisers. He testified that he continued to hold the events even when he did not draw an opponent for the chief's position.

After the fraud for the expansion at the Choctaw Casino Pocola was uncovered, Pyle donated nearly $235,000 to charities, according to an email from Michael Burrage, one of the tribe's attorneys. Burrage, the former chief judge of the federal court where the trial is taking place, also testified yesterday.

Then-assistant chief Gary Batton went on a 2010 hunting trip that was financed by a company whose executives pleaded guilty for defrauding the Choctaw Nation. One of those executives -- Brent Alan Parsons -- is seen here with Batton. Photo from Pueblo of Acoma Big Game Trophy Hunts

Pyle's assistant chief during the time in question was Gary Batton. Batton is now the chief of the tribe.

Batton accepted a hunting trip to New Mexico and hunting gear from Builders Steel. He has donated $27,500 --- what he believed to be the cost of those gifts -- to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, his alma mater, and the Children's Hospital Foundation.

Batton is due to take the stand today. He went on the 2010 trip to Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico with Jason Merida, the tribe's former head of construction. Merida is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts, trips and other items of value from the companies that performed casino work.

Merida started mounting his defense yesterday. His attorneys called Pyle and Burrage to the stand and will be calling Batton.

Get the Story:
Former chief takes stand in construction fraud case (The Native American Times 11/18)
Current, former Choctaw chiefs to testify at bribery trial (The Tulsa World 11/17)
Choctaw Corruption Case Continues (Indian Country Today 11/17)

Relevant Documents:
Indictment: US v. Jason Brett Merida | Record of FBI Interview | Memorandum of Interview from Department of Treasury | Trial Brief by US Attorney's Office | Jason Merida Brief Accusing Batton and Pyle | US Motion Seeking to Prevent Jason Merida from Bringing up Batton and Pyle | Flintco Statement | Michael Burrage Email: Batton and Pyle Accepted Gifts