Blackfeet operations manager indicted for stealing Covid-19 stimulus funds

James McNeely, the operations manager and spokesperson for the Blackfeet Tribe, was indicted for stealing at least $78,400 in federal Covid-19 stimulus dollars intended for the tribe, according to federal court documents filed last week.

McNeely, indicted for theft from tribal government and wire fraud, is accused of diverting American Rescue Plan Act dollars between October 2021 and October 2022, according to the lawsuit filed by the federal government in the Great Falls Division U.S. District Court.

McNeely did not return calls from the Daily Montanan, and the tribal council could not be reached for comment in time for publication.