Tribal secretary pleads guilty in immigration plot
By ROXANA HEGEMAN
Associated Press Writer

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- The secretary of a group that claims to be an American Indian tribe pleaded guilty Thursday to failing to tell authorities that immigrants were being defrauded by promises that tribal membership conferred U.S. citizenship.

Eduviges del Carmen Zamora pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, generally defined as concealing someone else's crime. She agreed to testify in next month's U.S. District Court trial of the remaining defendants ensnared in a federal investigation of the Kaweah Indian Nation.

Authorities raided the group's offices and arrested its self-proclaimed chief, Malcolm Webber, last September.

Prosecutors allege that the group marketed tribal memberships to legal and illegal immigrants by saying the documents conferred U.S. citizenship and would allow immigrants to obtain other documents and benefits, including Social Security cards.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs ruled in 1984 that the Kaweah group had no historical link to American Indian tribes. The bureau also ruled that Webber -- also known as Grand Chief Thunderbird IV -- is not an Indian.

Zamora acknowledged that she worked last year for Webber. Her job was to generate a membership certificate and a laminated card indicating "citizenship" in the tribe.

She agreed in the plea agreement that Webber sold memberships -- costing anywhere from $50 to more than $1,000 -- that led buyers to believe if they joined his tribe they would be U.S. citizens. Memberships were marketed primarily to Hispanics like Zamora.

Prosecutors contend that between 10,000 and 15,000 immigrants in at least 15 states were defrauded into buying tribal memberships in the group.

Zamora acknowledged she became aware the memberships had no value and that people receiving the cards could not become citizens merely by joining the group. But she said in the plea deal that she continued to process applications and receive her payment for her job without notifying anyone of the fraud.

Zamora also agreed to fully cooperate with authorities and help them recover forfeitable assets of the tribe.

She faces up to three years in prison when she is sentenced Oct. 3. Prosecutors agreed to recommend the low end of sentencing guidelines with credit for acceptance of responsibility.

Federal prosecutors last year charged 11 people, including the chief and the tribal entity, in a 17-count indictment. Charges have since been dismissed against one defendant, and another defendant has pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.

Jamie Cervantes, the pastor of a Hispanic Wichita church, was sentenced to time served and ordered deported last month after pleading guilty to falsely claiming he was a U.S. citizen to get a Social Security card.

Webber and the remaining eight defendants are scheduled for trial on Aug. 5.
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