The leader of a fake tribe was arrested on Thursday and faces federal charges for selling "membership" to immigrants.
Malcolm L. Webber, who calls himself Chief Thunderbird IV, has been recruiting immigrants to join the Kaweah Nation. He claims membership cards will make it easier for them to gain U.S. citizenship.
Indian and Hispanic organizations complained about the scam, prompting federal and state investigations. Agents from several federal agencies raided the Kaweah Nation's offices in Kansas yesterday.
Get the Story:Kaweah leader arrested in raid (The Wichita Eagle 9/7)
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Kansas Tribe Raided in Immigration Probe (AP 9/7) Related Stories:
Kaweah Nation denies scamming immigrants (8/29)
NIHB Chair: Tribal membership not for sale (8/24)
Texas sues fake tribe for selling 'membership' (8/22)
Opinion: Immigrants fall for citizenship scams (8/21)
Unrecognized tribe cites 10K immigrant recruitments (8/15)
Arrests linked to tribe selling 'membership' (8/14)
Fake tribe offers membership to Mexican nationals (8/10)
