Sunchild's appeal on embezzlement sentence denied

A panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Wednesday an appeal filed by a former chair of the Chippewa Cree tribal council saying he was sentenced too harshly for his role in corruption and embezzlement at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

Bruce Sunchild pleaded guilty Nov. 10, 2014, at federal District Court in Great Falls to theft from an Indian tribal organization, accepting a bribe and income tax evasion. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris sentenced Sunchild March 10, 2015, to 24 months in federal prison.

Sunchild's charges stemmed from investigations by U.S. District Attorney...