Four people were indicted in a scheme in which about $38,700 was allegedly funneled to pay the legal fees of former Crow Tribe chairman Clifford G. Birdinground.

The indictment accuses the tribe's former finance director and three others of arranging fraudulent contracts that were paid with tribal funds. The funds were then given to Birdinground to pay his attorney, the indictment alleges.

Birdinground pleaded guilty to one count of bribery for a scheme in which tribal funds were used to buy vehicles. He is challenging the plea because he claims he has a limited understanding of English and didn't understand what he was doing by pleading guilty.

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4 accused of theft from Crow Tribe (The Billings Gazette 4/16)