Federal lawsuit claims BIA defrauding Shoshone-Bannock tribe members

A civil lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday claims the Fort Hall Agency Bureau of Indian Affairs is defrauding members of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe.

The suit, filed by tribe member William Beasley, alleges outsiders are being admitted to the tribe and allowed to collect benefits intended for legal members.

“They’re not born here. They don’t have the Shoshone-Bannock descendancy,” said Beasley.

But Beasley claims the BIA is admitting them anyway.

“They’re enrolling them with criminal intent so they can benefit from these privileges,” said Beasley. “It seems like if you got money you can buy your enrollment.”

The suit names Randy Thompson, the superintendent of the Fort Hall BIA, as a defendant. Reached by phone Wednesday, Thompson said he hadn’t yet seen the lawsuit and couldn’t comment on it.

In the lawsuit, Beasley asks that all funding provided to the Shoshone-Bannock tribe under the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868 be suspended. He also requests federal intervention.

“I think the U.S. marshals need to come down and take control of the situation. Clean it out and start all over again,” said Luke Eagle, Beasley’s brother.