James pleads guilty to stealing $300,000

PHOENIX - Evelyn James, 54, of Tuba City, and a tribal council member of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona, pleaded guilty Wednesday to false statements, theft from a tribal government receiving federal funds and money laundering, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

In the course of her guilty plea, she admitted to stealing almost $300,000 in tribal funds. Sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Martone on Sept. 28, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

James intermittently served as the tribal president of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and in that capacity, completed, signed and submitted false statements and records to obtain funds for the tribe from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.

Administered through the Department of Justice, COPS provides financial assistance to eligible police departments to help improve community policing efforts.

James submitted falsified accountings in which she asked for reimbursement from the COPS program for expenditures that were never made by the tribe. The false submissions indicated that the tribe hired and paid three police officers when no peace officers were ever hired, trained or employed.

Through James's false submissions, the tribe wrongfully received approximately $224,997 in grant funds from the COPS program. Beginning in 2005, James wrote checks to herself from money drawn on the tribal bank account. During 2005, James stole approximately $300,000 in tribal funds in this fashion.

A conviction for false statements carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both. A conviction for theft from tribal government receiving federal funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

A conviction for transactional money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

In determining an actual sentence, Martone will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Navajo police, sheriff's deputies stop reckless driver

WINDOW ROCK, July 2, 2009

It took both the Navajo Nation Police and San Juan County (NM) Sheriff's Department deputies to arrest Prenell Nez, 28, of Kirtland, N.M., on June 24.

It began with sheriff deputies who started a high-speed pursuit of Nez after he was seen traveling recklessly in Farmington, driving on the sidewalk and sideswiping a car.

The chase continued with Nez driving south of Farmington toward Shiprock (where tribal police entered the chase).

It finally ended on Navajo Route 361 when sheriff's deputies put down a spike stick, forcing him to stop.

He was charged with reckless driving and DWI but tribal police said more charges may be pending.

Driver tries to ram police car

Another high speed pursuit occurred on June 30, this time on U.S. 89 near Cameron, Ariz.

The person chased was identified as Billison Yazzie Begay Jr.,  22, of Cameron.

`Police said the case started out as a domestic violence call and when police arrived at the scene, they saw Begay get in his car and speed away with no headlights on.

Police chased him until about seven miles north of Cameron when Begay tried run into the police car.

This stopped his car as well and police said another officer was injured while trying to put handcuffs on him.

He is now facing charges in tribal court including interference with judicial process, aggravated assault, criminal damage, reckless driving and unlawful flight.

Driver apparently fell asleep

Police reported a vehicle accident with fatality on State Highway 264 near Tuba City just after midnight on June 24.

The victim was identified as Mitchell Taliman, 44, of Tuba City.

Police said Taliman was traveling in a company car when he may have fallen asleep at the wheel. He drove off the road and then came back on, trying to regain control of the car.

Instead, his car swerved to the left and then the right after crossing the center stripe and rolled over, landing on its roof.

The car kept moving, however, and slid into a fence along the road before it stopped.

When police arrived at the scene, the victim was still in the car. Police said when they checked the body they could not find a pulse.

Parker man sentenced to 33 for murder

PHOENIX - Gilbert Holmes, 29, of Parker, Ariz., and a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was sentenced June 29 to 33 years in federal prison for murdering a 40-year-old woman with whom he had a child, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

On April 29, 2008, Holmes broke through the front window of the victim's home. He then went into her bedroom where he saw his daughter sleeping. Two other young children, sons of the victim, were also in the house that night.

Holmes first assaulted the victim's boyfriend, who fought back, and the victim screamed for the boyfriend to call the police. When he left to call the police from a neighbor's house, Holmes attacked the victim.

He hit her numerous times about the head and face with a closet rod. He then attempted to stab her with the rod until it shattered.

Holmes then stabbed the victim multiple times with a kitchen knife. He also kicked the victim in the face, splitting her face from her mouth to her cheekbone. She died a short time later of her injuries.

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