The logo for the Guardians Project. Image from U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana
A former Bureau of Land Management official was sentenced to six months in federal prison from a case that arose as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe into the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana. John Grimson Lyon was convicted of wire fraud, false claims and theft of government property after a trial in March. The jury determined that he covered up for a subordinate who left his post in Virginia to do contract work for the tribe. The subordinate, Larry Ray Denny, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, false claims, theft of government property and falsely representing outside income. He was due to be sentenced along with Lyon but the judge delayed the hearing to July 29, the Associated Press reported. At least 18 people on the Rocky Boy's Reservation have been convicted as part of the investigation. The effort -- known as the The Guardians Project in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana -- has put the state on top of a nationwide list of judicial districts with the most government corruption prosecutions. Get the Story:
Land Management official sentenced in workplace fraud case (AP 7/7)
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