Goshute sentenced, ordered to repay funds

The last of a group of Goshutes — including their attorney — charged with illegally taking funds from a tribal bank account was sentenced Tuesday.

U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell sentenced Miranda Wash to 12 months federal probation and ordered her to pay Zions Bank a total of $8,110.

Wash is one of three members of the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes who used a fictitious court order to withdraw funds from the bank account.

Wash, along with Marlinda Moon and Sammy Blackbear, claimed they had won a tribal election when their claim was not supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Prosecutors say the three did use some of the money for official tribal business, and also paid themselves stipends and fees for their attorney, Duncan Steadman.

In separate plea agreements, Moon agreed to pay back $13,825 and Blackbear was ordered to return $17,300. In early December, Steadman was ordered to pay back $11,000. All funds are to go to Zions Bank, which had earlier settled financially with the Goshutes.