Tribe

Federal Court Upholds ATF Decision Against Twenty-Nine Palms Tribe in Cigarette Tax Dispute

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Riverside, Calif. – A federal court has upheld a decision by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to block the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians from shipping untaxed cigarettes. U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes ruled against the tribe, stating there was no arbitrary or capricious action on the part of the ATF, which enforced the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act. The tribe had been permitted by federal law to sell untaxed cigarettes to other Native American nations. However, complications arose when these cigarettes were subsequently sold to non-Native consumers without … Read more

Wells Fargo Accused of Mismanaging Millions from Seminole Tribe Minors’ Trust in High-Stakes Legal Battle

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Miami, FL – In a recent court case, Wells Fargo and its previously associated bank, Wachovia, are facing allegations of defrauding minors from the Seminole Tribe of Florida out of $818 million. The accusations presented at the trial, which commenced on Wednesday, claim the banks engaged in surreptitious fee increases and mismanagement of investments tied to a multibillion-dollar gambling trust. During the opening statements of what is anticipated to be a multi-week trial, testimonies focused on the nature of the financial management provided by Wells Fargo and Wachovia to more than 2,000 underage members of … Read more

Breaking: Seminole Tribe Member Convicted of First-Degree Murder, Sentencing Date Announced

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A federal jury has convicted a member of the Seminole tribe of first-degree murder, marking a pivotal conclusion to a case that has captured local attention. The verdict, delivered after a detailed examination of the evidence, could lead to severe sentencing implications under federal law. The trial, held in the Seminole county seat, revolved around the death of an individual that occurred last year. Prosecutors presented a case that detailed how the defendant, whose identity remains under court-protected confidentiality, allegedly planned and executed the crime meticulously. Legal experts watching the case noted the significance of … Read more

Conservationists and Native Tribe Sue to Stop Nevada Lithium Mine, Citing Threats to Endangered Wildflower and Cultural Sites

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RENO, Nev. — Conservationists and the Western Shoshone tribe are actively opposing the federal government’s authorization of a lithium mine in Nevada, fearing it will eradicate an endangered plant species, disrupt sacred native sites, and alter natural groundwater flows. This litigation underscores the tensions between ecological preservation and the pursuit of renewable energy resources. The Center for Biological Diversity, alongside the Western Shoshone Defense Project, initiated legal action following the U.S. Interior Department’s approval of Ioneer Ltd.’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron mining project. This site, located near the California border and equidistant from Reno and Las … Read more