Former Blackfeet operations manager pleads not guilty in tribal theft case

A former operations manager for the Blackfeet Tribe pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges accusing him of stealing thousands in Covid-19 relief funds from the tribe.

James McNeely, 43, of Browning, was charged with theft from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funding, wire fraud and theft from an Indian tribal organization in October.

McNeely could face a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release, according to the Montana U.S. Attorney’s Office.