Court documents outline alleged embezzlement from Yurok Tribe [View all]

[XemaSab]

Court documents outline how three biologists allegedly used an elaborate system of fake invoices, false purchase requests and electronic bank transfers to embezzle more than $900,000 from the Yurok Tribe during a three-year period.

Officials with the Del Norte County District Attorney's Office traveled to Eureka on Thursday to execute three $1 million arrest warrants for suspects Sean McAllister, Ron LeValley and Roland Raymond. The men are accused of burglary, embezzlement and conspiracy to commit a crime.

McAllister, 45, an associate biologist with the Eureka-based Mad River Biologists, was arrested Thursday while at work. LeValley, 65, a senior biologist and founder of the business, was arrested Thursday night after turning himself in to Del Norte County officials. Raymond, 49, the former Yurok Tribe forestry director, was still at-large Friday night.

Members of the community expressed shock Thursday and Friday after learning Raymond, McAllister and LeValley were being sought or were arrested on the warrants. Biologists praised McAllister's and LeValley's work, stating they were well respected in their field. Raymond was named director of the year in 2009, according to a Yurok tribal newsletter called “The Voice of the Yurok People.”

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_20043580

Everyone in the environmental and birding communities in Northern California knows these people. This is a SHOCKER.