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2 ex-tribal council members plead guilty to misusing funds

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July 2nd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two former members of the Winnebago Tribe’s governing council have pleaded guilty to misusing federal money to pay themselves bonuses.
The Sioux City Journal reports that Tillie Aldrich and Jessica Webster pleaded guilty Friday.

As part of agreements that both signed with prosecutors, Aldrich and Webster are both expected to be sentenced to five years of probation on Sept. 21. Webster must repay $89,000 and Aldrich must repay $13,404.

The two are part of a group of nine former council members charged with giving themselves bonuses out of $388,972 in federal money intended to provide health care to tribal members.