Post by Okwes on Sept 21, 2007 0:52:55 GMT -5
Feds Charge So-Called Indian Chief
A Sixty-nine-year-old Malcolm Webber made his first appearance in federal court this afternoon. Prosecutors say Webber is better known to hundreds, if not thousands of illegal immigrants as "Chief Thunderbird IV."
Federal officers raided Webber's Kaweah Indian Tribe offices on Thursday. Now, they say the tribe and its chief are part of an elaborate scheme.
"This has nothing to with native american tribes," says US Attorney Brent Anderson. "This is something that was allegedly made up by Mr. Webber. It has no basis in reality."
Authorities believe Webber sold fake citizenship papers to undocumented immigrants who would join his so-called indian tribe. Prosecutors say he even marketed the scheme in Hispanic churches, saying membership with the Kaweah Nation entitled immigrants to social security accounts and other US documentation.
"We've seen it over the years on occasion," says Anderson, "but not to the scope of hundreds or thousands of people like with this."
Over the last year, there have been reports in at least seven states of illegal immigrants possessing fake documents believed to be supplied by Webber in Wichita.
Webber is charged with fraud, harboring undocumented immigrants, and making false identifications. Authorities recovered some $300,000 in a local bank account belonging to the Kaweah tribe, and believe there could be more accounts in more states. They also say they are investigating other suspects.
Webber did seek federal recognition of the Kaweah tribe in 1984, but was denied because neither he nor the tribe have any true Indian ties. His case goes to a grand jury next week for indictment. If convicted on all accounts, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
A Sixty-nine-year-old Malcolm Webber made his first appearance in federal court this afternoon. Prosecutors say Webber is better known to hundreds, if not thousands of illegal immigrants as "Chief Thunderbird IV."
Federal officers raided Webber's Kaweah Indian Tribe offices on Thursday. Now, they say the tribe and its chief are part of an elaborate scheme.
"This has nothing to with native american tribes," says US Attorney Brent Anderson. "This is something that was allegedly made up by Mr. Webber. It has no basis in reality."
Authorities believe Webber sold fake citizenship papers to undocumented immigrants who would join his so-called indian tribe. Prosecutors say he even marketed the scheme in Hispanic churches, saying membership with the Kaweah Nation entitled immigrants to social security accounts and other US documentation.
"We've seen it over the years on occasion," says Anderson, "but not to the scope of hundreds or thousands of people like with this."
Over the last year, there have been reports in at least seven states of illegal immigrants possessing fake documents believed to be supplied by Webber in Wichita.
Webber is charged with fraud, harboring undocumented immigrants, and making false identifications. Authorities recovered some $300,000 in a local bank account belonging to the Kaweah tribe, and believe there could be more accounts in more states. They also say they are investigating other suspects.
Webber did seek federal recognition of the Kaweah tribe in 1984, but was denied because neither he nor the tribe have any true Indian ties. His case goes to a grand jury next week for indictment. If convicted on all accounts, he faces up to 30 years in prison.