GRIFFIN & WILLIAMS, P.S.
Attorneys at Law
5000 Bridgeport Way West
University Place , WA 98467-2031
Telephone (253) 460-2973
Facsimile (253) 460-2977
Karl L. Williams Robert G. Griffin
Retired
Puyallup Tribal Council
Re: Embezzlement of Funds by Members of the Puyallup International Inc.
Dear Council members:
Please be advised that the undersigned has been retained by Full Circle of the Puyallup Nation in the above-referenced matter. Although Full Circle has brought this matter to your attention to date no action has been taken by the Council. The Board of Directors of the Puyallup International Inc. (P.I.I.) used their position as Directors to steal money from the Tribe. The mission of P.I.I. is to reduce the overall debt of the Puyallup Nation. The embezzlement of funds can only be seen as a criminal act and a serious breach of fiduciary duty.
One of the Board members, Julie Hamilton in her memorandum outlined the violations very clearly. Ms. Hamilton was not present when the Board voted to pay themselves retroactively and in excess of the maximum yearly allotment. Ms. Hamilton refused her check and wrote the memorandum to advise the Council that the actions of the P.I.I. needed to be investigated and acted upon. Still the Council has taken no action.
The Tribal Council enacted rules and regulations governing the compensation to be received by the Directors of the P.I.I. The vote to issue retroactive pay took place immediately after the Board was informed that they were going to be replaced. The retroactive pay is in excess of the $6,000 yearly maximum set by the Tribal Council. The obvious implication is that the Board was resentful that they were being terminated and decided to take advantage of their position to line their pockets with money that belong to the Puyallup Nation. It is my legal opinion that the P.I.I. actions are indefensible. There is no excuse or justification for the theft of these funds.
As the leaders of the Puyallup Nation, your refusal to take action is a worse crime than the theft itself. Full Circle and the numerous tribal members, who are offended and outraged by the actions of the P.I.I., do not want to seek outside help in resolving this matter. It reflects poorly on the Tribal leadership. If the Tribal Council will take no action then so be it.
If the individual board members who embezzled the funds are not made to pay back the tribe immediately, Full Circle on behalf of the Puyallup Nation will take this matter to the Court of Public Opinion. The media will certainly be interested in the corruption that goes unpunished within the Puyallup Nation. If that does not bring about action then perhaps the Bureau of Indian Affairs should be contacted and an investigation initiated to look into this matter and the numerous complaints from the Casino operations.
The members of the P.I.I. who accepted and cashed their self-appropriated checks are banking on the fact that the Tribal Council will take no action. This latest theft is the line in the sand. If this action is allowed to go unpunished, the Tribal Council will send a message to those inside the Tribe and out that if you are connected to the right Tribal Council member you can steal from the Nation and suffer no consequence.
Should you continue to ignore this matter, I have been instructed by Full Circle to take whatever action they deem necessary to redress this injustice. Perhaps a class action suit naming the P.I.I. board as defendants will stir the Tribal Council to action. If no action is taken perhaps the Tribal Council itself should be considered as defendants.
If the Tribal Council does not take action against the perpetrators of this crime within 20 days of the date of this letter, than action will be taken by Full Circle .
Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Karl L. Williams
