Investigations Involving the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Rural Water Systems

OIG recently completed three investigations into allegations of public corruption involving the Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) contract with the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Indians (CCT) for the planning, design, and construction of the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Rural Water System (RWS). 

 

We uncovered widespread corruption at CCT. To date, 25 individuals and 8 companies have been charged in these investigations. Twenty individuals have been convicted in U.S. District Court based on prosecution initiated by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, on charges including theft from a program receiving Federal funds, accepting and offering bribes, embezzlement, and false claims.

 

Although these three investigations are complete, we continue to investigate additional allegations related to CCT.

 

We issued our report to USBR and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for any action deemed appropriate.