Primary suspect in Yurok Tribe theft case finally surrenders

Friday, April 6, 2012  

The primary suspect in the theft of nearly $1 million from the Yurok Tribe of California turned himself in on Thursday, after more than a month on the run.

Roland Raymond, 49, was a forestry director for the tribe. He is alleged to have conspired with two biologists to steal money from a tribal wildlife preservation program.

“The Yurok Tribe is an integral part of Del Norte County. The fact that Roland Raymond and his co-conspirators used conservation programs designed to protect creatures and wildlife sacred to their culture, makes this crime especially offensive to me and it will be pursued vigorously,” District Attorney Jon Alexander said in a press release.

The tribe has said the money came from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which could trigger federal charges against the people involved in the theft.

Get the Story:
3rd arrest in embezzlement case (The Daily Triplicate 4/5)
Former Yurok Tribe Forestry Director Roland Raymond turns himself in (The Eureka Times-Standard 4/5)
Yurok Embezzlement Fugitive Surrenders (The North Coast Journal 4/5)

Related Stories:
Opinion: Biologists trade their opinions for the highest price (03/14)
Yurok Tribe outraged at theft of nearly $1M from program (2/28)