Naize among those facing bribery charges
By Bill Donovan
Special to the Times
WINDOW ROCK, Dec. 6, 2013
(File photo)
Johnny Naize at his swearing-in on the Navajo Nation council.
Information released Thursday by the courts list charges being filed against Navajo Nation Council Speaker Johnny Naize, former speaker Lawrence Morgan and former Council delegates Lena Manheimer and George Arthur.
They are facing numerous charges of committing bribery in official and political matters.
The charges are similar to the ones that have been charged against 77 other members of the tribal Council over the last four years - charges accusing the four of giving tribal discretionary funds to their relatives instead of to members of the tribe who were in need.
Naize is charged with giving more than $36,000 to his family members through deals made with other members of the council where one council delegate would give money to the family members of another council delegate in exchange for him doing the same for his.
Morgan was charged with providing his family about $17,500 in illegal discretionary funds, Manheimer more than $12,000 and Arthur almost $26,000.
The documents released by the courts also implicate more than 12 other former and current members of the council including Young Jeff Tom, Jack Colorado, Norman John, Elmer Milford, Leonard Teller and Ervin Keeswood.
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