Former Tonkawa leader indicted for embezzlement

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A federal grand jury has indicted the former president of the Tonkawa Tribe on 17 counts for allegedly conspiring with two others to embezzle more than $500,000 from the tribe, federal prosecutors said Monday.

Anthony E. Street, 47, faces one count of conspiracy and 16 counts of embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization. Street appeared in court in Oklahoma City on Monday and a trial date was set for December.

Street, Vice President Gordon Warrior and Secretary-Treasurer Dawena Pappan are accused of writing more than 300 checks to themselves from the tribe's general fund for personal use from April 2005 to April 2008. Street and Warrior served in office until elections in 2008 and Pappan resigned that year, prosecutors said

The three took care of daily operations as members of the tribe's business committee, including among other responsibilities, ensuring that proceeds from the tribe's casinos were spent on legitimate tribal expenses under established procedures, the indictment read.

In August 2007, Street, Warrior and Pappan approved large pay increases for their work on the business committee, the indictment alleged. Street's wages increased from $25.66 an hour to $62.50 per hour, resulting in an annual salary of $130,000.

Street, Warrior and Pappan also were accused of approving blank voucher requests with no explanation for why there were taking money from the general fund.

Street and Warrior remained in office until 2008, when tribal elections were held. Pappan resigned in June of that year, and a new business committee was chosen, prosecutors said.

Court records didn't indicate if Street had retained an attorney to represent him. Prosecutors listed him as a resident of Ponca City, but a telephone listing for him couldn't be found.

Warrior and Pappan pleaded guilty in separate embezzlement cases and await sentencing, prosecutors said.

The tribe is located in Tonkawa, near the Kansas border in north-central Oklahoma. According to the website, there are roughly 500 members.