Opinion ID: 757097
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Commissions Conspiracy

Text: 12 The RTC members created two commissions of which they were the sole members: the Gaming Control Commission and the Fishing Commission (Commissions). The RTC members assumed no additional duties by serving on the Commissions, and the Commissions themselves were essentially functionless. 5 Nonetheless, Clark, Rawley, and Wadena received substantial payments for their service on the Commissions. 6 At irregular intervals, and when the desire arose, Clark, Rawley, and Wadena directed the issuance of tribal funds to themselves, and they directed the Band's accounting department to code the checks as payment for commission meetings. These payments were made from the Band's general treasury, and when combined with Clark's, Rawley's and Wadena's RTC salaries for the years 1990 to 1993, the payments amounted to over $1.2 million. 13 In the 1995 Indictment, the government charged Clark, Rawley, and Wadena with ten counts arising from the Commissions conspiracy. Count 19 alleged the defendants conspired to misapply tribal funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1163. The object of this conspiracy was to obtain tribal funds in the form of excessive commission payments. Counts 20 through 28 alleged various acts of misapplication of tribal funds, theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, and money laundering. 7 The jury convicted Clark and Wadena of all counts relating to the Commissions conspiracy. The jury convicted Rawley of all counts except for one count of misapplying tribal funds.