Ojibwe tribe files action against City of Brainerd
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has taken legal action against the City of Brainerd over a firefighter who pleaded guilty to embezzling $660,000 from the tribe.
The Ojibwe say their losses actually exceeded $1.4 million. They're seeking an injunction against the city if the city decides to settle a separate claim with Eric Makowski-Budrow.
The Brainerd Daily Dispatch says Makowski-Budrow remains a paid on-call Brainerd firefighter. After he pleaded guilty to the embezzlement, he offered to release the city from legal claims he had filed against it in return for $50,000.
In court documents filed Friday, the Ojibwe say any money the city might plan to pay him should go to them instead.
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The city council has not voted on taking any action in the case.
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Information from The Brainerd Daily Dispatch
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