Former Yurok official pleads not guilty
Friday, April 6, 2012
EUREKA, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities say a former Yurok tribe official wanted for allegedly embezzling federal money intended for spotted owl and wildlife research is in custody after turning himself in.
The Times-Standard (http://bit.ly/I7K1ra ) reports that after surrendering to Del Norte county officials Thursday, Roland Raymond was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and other charges.
The 49-year-old Raymond is the former director of forestry for the Yurok tribe. He had been wanted since Feb. 23 when a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Prosecutors say Raymond and two contract biologists used fake invoices and other bogus documents to embezzle more than $870,000 in federal funds from the Yurok Tribe during three years of wildlife studies.
The two biologists, 65-year-old Ron LeValley and 45-year-old Sean McAllister, are free on bail after pleading not guilty to embezzlement and other charges.
Raymond was being held in Del Norte County Jail on $1 million bail.
Information from: Times-Standard, http://www.times-standard.com
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