2 charged in Rocky Boy embezzlement

HELENA (AP) — Two former executives of a Chippewa Cree Tribe online lending company have been charged with embezzlement and conspiracy.

Neal Rosette and Billi Anne Morsette pleaded not guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Great Falls.

Rosette and Morsette were executives for First American Capital Resources, the tribe's first attempt at providing short-term loans at high interest rates. The tribe later started another company called Plain Green that had financial and technical backing from the Texas-based Think Finance Inc., and First American faded away.

Federal prosecutors accuse Rosette and Morsette of withdrawing money from a tribal account by writing checks to the First American bank account. They then wrote checks from the First American account to themselves and to an account controlled by a former tribal councilman.

Prosecutors say they embezzled more than $55,000.