Tribe fires back at ex-financial adviser

FORT DUCHESNE, Uintah County — Leaders of the Ute Indian Tribe responded Wednesday to comments made last week by their former financial adviser about the tribe's economic condition.

In a press release, the Ute Tribe Business Committee accused John Jurrius of attempting to influence the tribe's upcoming elections by stirring fears about its financial stability since his departure.

Jurrius told about 80 supporters on Friday that energy companies in the Uintah Basin, particularly those working with the tribe, may be pulling back because it's become more difficult to drill. He noted that Bill Barrett Corp., in a Feb. 24 SEC filing, commented on the trend.

"We have experienced delays in obtaining permits to drill wells on tribal property, including our Lake Canyon and Black Tail Ridge projects," the company wrote. "We believe that delays in obtaining permits will continue for the foreseeable future, which will delay our ability to drill wells in these areas."

Jurrius questioned why the tribe's Energy and Minerals Department isn't working with industry to keep drilling activity going.

"You have things that you have great influence over," Jurrius told his audience. "That's something — as you're going through your upcoming elections — that you ought to think about. Who's gonna get that work done so that your revenues aren't impacted?"

Tribal members go to the polls April 6 for primary elections to decide who will be on the ballot for three of the six Business Committee seats. The general election is April 22.

Business Committee Chairman Curtis Cesspooch, who won office in 2007 running on what was viewed as an anti-Jurrius platform, called his comments "ill-informed and misleading."

"The tribe continues to move forward responsibly in developing its natural resources and is seeking to avoid the problem of dilution of tribal ownership in its resources that Jurrius himself created for his own benefit," Cesspooch said in a statement sent to the Deseret News late Wednesday.

The tribe has a pending lawsuit against Jurrius and his firm, the Jurrius Ogle Group, in U.S. District Court in Denver. The lawsuit claims that Jurrius took advantage of his role as the tribe's financial adviser to "wrongfully and fraudulently" claim interests in tribal energy concerns worth millions of dollars.

Jurrius has denied any wrongdoing and has countersued the tribe, alleging breach of contract. He could not be reached Wednesday for comment on the allegation that he is attempting to influence tribal elections.

E-MAIL: geoff@ubstandard.com