Ex-Leech Lake chairman pleads to 2 counts of bribe taking
A former chairman of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe has pleaded guilty to two counts of accepting bribes from a man who operated a check-cashing service in the tribe's casinos.
Peter D. White was chairman of the tribe between February 2003 and June 2004.
He pleaded guilty Wednesday to accepting one $1,500 cash payment on August 1, 2003, and to accepting another $1,500 cash payment on November 11, 2003.
The indictment says businessman Craig Keith Potts is accused of paying the bribes and engaging in a conspiracy so he could influence White and be rewarded with business contracts. The case against Potts is still pending.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment when asked whether White would testify against Potts. A message left with White's public defender was not immediately returned Thursday.
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