Jurors get immigration fraud case





Associated Press - August 12, 2008 1:54 PM ET

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Jurors have begun deliberating the immmigration fraud case of a self-proclaimed grand chief of the Kaweah Indian Nation.

The U.S. District Court jury received the case against 70-year-old Malcomb Webber early Tuesday afternoon. Webber had been expected to take the stand Tuesday but declined to do so, and the defense rested without calling any witnesses.

Webber is charged with selling memberships costing $50 to more than $1,000 apiece to legal and illegal immigrants by falsely claiming tribal membership conferred U.S. citizenship and other benefits.

Before the case went to the jury, defense attorney Kurt Kerns gave jurors a transcript and recording of a July 2006 grand council meeting where Webber reportedly said of the tribal memberships was not to make money, but help people.



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