Opinion ID: 815103
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Bauman

Text: Archie Bauman also contracted with the tribe to perform construction services after the fire. In June of 2008, Thompson and Shields asked Bauman to provide a short-term loan to the tribe. Bauman resisted because the tribe owed Bauman money. Bauman eventually loaned the tribe $160,000, and made several personal loans to Thompson, Shields, and council chairman Brandon Suaze. In July 2008, the tribe repaid the $160,000 loan, plus $49,271 in interest. Between June and October 2008, Bauman made additional loans to the tribe and tribal council members, most notably a $50,000 loan to the tribe in August 2008. During this period, Bauman signed a contract with the tribe to construct teacher housing on the school property. On October 21, 2008, Bauman met with Raue, Thompson, Shields, Big Eagle, Suaze, and former council member Rocky Fallis at Bauman’s office. They discussed how the tribe and individual council members could repay the Bauman loans. The men knew the tribal council members were under federal investigation for corruption and believed if the loans were not repaid the investigators would believe them to be illegal kickbacks. At this meeting, Big Eagle, Shields, and Thompson pressured Bauman for an additional $5,000 loan. Bauman decided it would be best to give the money to Big Eagle because Big Eagle was not serving on the tribal council at that time. It was understood by Bauman that Big Eagle would distribute the money to the other men, to hide the source of the funds. Thompson wrote a $5,000 check to Big -4- Eagle. Unbeknownst to the participants at this meeting, Suaze was cooperating with law enforcement and surreptitiously recorded the meeting.