Jury convicts former tribal health director

GREAT FALLS  — A jury has convicted the former head of the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation health-care system of using federal money meant for the reservation to visit her husband in prison.

The federal jury in Great Falls convicted Fawn Tadios on three counts of theft Thursday after a two-day trial.

Federal investigator Kelly Earl testified that Tadios had used $11,248 meant for the Rocky Boy’s health department to visit her husband, former Chippewa Cree tribal chairman Jake Parker Jr., in federal prison in South Dakota.

Tadios pleaded not guilty to the charges and questioned the federal court’s jurisdiction over her as a member of the Chippewa Cree tribe.

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris released Tadios while she awaits sentencing on Oct. 9.