Slush fund defendants being sentenced today
Thirteen former members of the Navajo Nation Council and two former staff assistants are being sentenced today in the Navajo Tribal Court in Window Rock in connection with the five-year-long investigation into misuse of tribal discretionary funds.
Two of the 13 former council members — Johnny Naize and Lawrence Morgan — were Speakers of the council when they were charged with conspiracy and misuse of tribal funds.
All 15 of those to be sentenced today have pleaded guilty to misusing as much as $99,000 in tribal funds.
Under the plea agreements that they signed with tribal prosecutors, all could be facing anything from probation to 364 days in tribal jail. They all agreed to leave the matter of restitution up to the courts.
In previous sentencings, such in the case of Young Jeff Tom, the court imposed a sentence of 30 days in jail. Mel Begay, the only one who pleaded not guilty, is serving a three-year sentence after being found guilty by a tribal judge.
Window Rock District Court Judge Carol Perry has already received letters from many of those who will be sentenced, asking for leniency and some have apologized for their behavior.
Others have cited poor heath or financial difficulties as reasons why they should be treated with lenience by the court.
Sentencings are scheduled to continue every half hour until 4:30.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow