The former vice chairman of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and two friends were murdered in 1981 because they threatened to expose corrupt activities of a non-Indian financial adviser, according to authorities in California.

Fred Alvarez, 32, believed adviser John Philip Nichols was taking money from the tribe's casino. Alvarez, along with his girlfriend Patty Castro, 44, and Ralph Boger, 44, were killed "execution style" shortly after he raised the allegation.

Authorities say Nichols hired James "Jimmy" Hughes to kill Alvarez, Castro and Boger. Hughes, 52, has been arrested and is awaiting extradition to California.

Nichols died in 2001 and pleaded guilty in connection with another murder-for-hire plot, the Associated Press reported.

Hughes runs the Jimmy Hughes Ministries in Honduras.

Get the Story:
Calif. authorities: 1981 triple murder was hit job (AP 10/2)
Ministry director charged in the 1981 slaying of a Cabazon tribal leader (The Los Angeles Times 10/2)

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