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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2002

Testimony on the second day of a fraud and theft trial involving the Seminole Tribe of Florida weakened the government's case against three associates of former chief Jim Billie, according to news accounts.

The accounts refer to testimony given by Seminole general counsel Jim Shore, a rival to Billie who often challenged the flamboyant leader. Shore said that Billie often entered into risky business deals and acknowledged that money used to set up an off-shore Internet gambling site could have been legitimately gained.

The issue is critical because the government claims the associates embezzled $2.7 million from the tribe. Timmy Cox, Dan Wisher and Michael Crumpton say they were only following orders.

Get the Story:
Lawyer: I advised tribe against gambling deal (The St. Petersburg Times 12/4)
Testimony weakens Seminole fraud case (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 12/4)
Ex-tribe chief behind gambling venture, lawyers say (The Miami Herald 12/4)

Relevant Links:
Seminole Tribe - http://www.seminoletribe.com

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