GREAT FALLS – Bruce Sunchild, the 69-year-old former Chippewa Cree Tribal Chairman from Box Elder, Montana, has been slammed with a 34-month federal prison sentence for his extensive role in public corruption at the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.
Sunchild’s sentencing was conducted before U.S. District Judge Brian Morris today in Great Falls. His downfall began with a December 2011 transfer of $300,000 in tribal insurance funds to K & N Consulting—a company owned by Havre businessman Shad Huston.
According to prosecutors, the five tribal officials who approved this disbursement included Sunchild himself, Vice-Chairman John Chance Houle, Insurance Recovery Team Councilman Ted Whitford, Chippewa Cree Construction Corporation CEO Tony Belcourt, and Tribal Secretary-Treasurer Janice Meyers. The money was drawn from a bank account used for Insurance Fund settlement monies after the 2010 flooding. Yet, no supporting documents or records were found to substantiate the claim prep work by K & N Consulting.
Of the $300,000, K & N Consulting issued a $200,000 check to Tony Belcourt, who deposited it the following day. The remaining $100,000 was used for various benefits to tribal officials, leaving only $42,200 in the company’s account.
In addition to this scheme, Sunchild admitted to embezzling $25,000 from the Rocky Boy Health Clinic. He sought treatment off-reservation for his son and son’s girlfriend, bypassing proper federal funding channels and directing them to meet with Dr. James Eastlick, Jr., who arranged an evaluation in Havre.
The sentence handed down today is a stark reminder of the consequences of corruption within tribal leadership positions and the justice system’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for their actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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