This Sept. 11, 2010 photo shows Ben Shelly sitting among a crowd awaiting results of the Miss Navajo Nation pageant in Window Rock, Ariz. Shelly is seeking the tribal presidency. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca)
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Fraud charges hit Navajo candidates
Criminal complaints name 18 current, ex-lawmakers
Updated: Thursday, 21 Oct 2010, 2:54 PM MDT
Published : Thursday, 21 Oct 2010, 2:52 PM MDT
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - A Navajo presidential candidate and his running mate are among tribal officials charged in an investigation of slush funds.
Tribal Vice President Ben Shelly faces fraud, conspiracy and theft charges. He says he'll plead not guilty at his arraignment Thursday in tribal court.
His running mate, council Delegate Rex Lee Jim, also is charged in the probe.
The tribe's Department of Justice announced Wednesday that criminal complaints had been filed against an unspecified number of people. Eighteen former and current Navajo lawmakers were on the docket to be arraigned Thursday.
Court documents allege that Shelly, a former 16-year lawmaker, conspired with six others to benefit himself and his family financially.
(The Associated Press will update and expand this story as more information becomes available.)
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