3 Californian's Accused Of Embezzling $900K In Government Funds Affiliated With The Yurok Tribe To Study The Spotted Owl

Roland Raymond

Roland L. Raymond, 49, of Eureka, California - the former Forestry Director of the Yurok Tribe, along with two contract biologists, Sean Eric McAllister, 45 and Ronald R. LeValley, 65, both of Arcata, California, have been accused of bilking the government out of more than $900,000 in funds primarily intended to be used to study the Spotted Owl.  According to authorities, the three colluded in a fraudulent billing and kickback scheme that spanned nearly a 3 year period from February 2008 to December 2010 whereby Raymond submitted fraudulent invoices on behalf of the biologists and their firm, Mad River Biologists.  A total of 75 such invoices were submitted and paid, totalling $870,064.91.  Raymond, who was a longtime employee of the Yurok tribe, is also accused of making numerous unapproved purchases of personal items on tribal credit card accounts including seven iPads, car repairs, a shower door, gasoline and cleaning supplies.  McAllister and LeValley were arrested earlier this week on charges of burglary, embezzlement and conspiracy.  As of this writing, Raymond had not been arrested.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the affidavit for the search warrant here.

Update (4/5/12): Raymond has turned himself in an pleaded not guilty to the charges.