Utah tribe charges COO with embezzlement

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Executives of a Utah tribal development company have been suspended for alleged financial improprieties, a Shoshone tribal council said.

The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone council in Salt Lake City accused Chief Operating Officer Mike Devine of taking reimbursements from NWB Economic Development Company for non-business expenses, including his mortgage, travel, dining, entertainment and lodging, the Salt Lake Tribune reported Saturday.

The council wanted to suspend only Devine, but Chief Executive Officer Bruce Parry insisted on being suspended, too, pending law enforcement investigation of allegations of embezzlement, corporate mismanagement and tax fraud. Parry resigned his company position but remains on the tribal council, the Tribune reported.

Parry supported Devine in denying all the charges.

"I'm absolutely certain we'll withstand any scrutiny," Devine said.

The allegations were set forth by Chase Parry, an accountant for the company and one of Parry's grandsons, Chase Parry, said he found the company struggling to pay vendors. Many vendors were threatening lawsuits for non-payment, he said.

Chase Parry said he has contacted the federal Small Business Administration and state and federal tax authorities. Some tribal members said they will go to the FBI, the newspaper reported.

Bruce Parry said none of the tribe's money has ever gone into the company, but that Devine, who is not a tribe member, had put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the company.