Rosette and Morsette sentenced to more than 3 years

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris sentenced Chippewa Cree tribal leaders Neal Paul Rosette Sr. and Billi Anne Raining Bird Morsette, of the tribal online lending company Plain Green, Monday in federal District Court in Great Falls to more than three years in prison and jointly and with other responsible parties to pay nearly $1.5 million in restitution.

Rosette was sentenced to 38 months in prison for conspiracy to embezzle tribal funds, accepting bribes and income tax evasion and was ordered to pay $1,488,472 in restitution, “jointly and severally with any other defendants determined to be liable in the future.”

Morsette was sentenced to 41 months in prison for conspiracy to embezzle tribal funds, accepting bribes and one of four counts of failing to file a tax return and was ordered to pay $1,421,045 in restitution, also to be paid jointly and severally with others who were responsible.

Both pleaded guilty in federal District Court Dec. 1 to charges they and others embezzled money in a complex scheme of fraud and kickbacks involving the Chippewa Cree Tribe’s online lending company, Plain Green.

Under the plea agreement, the government agreed to drop six other charges against Rosette and six against Morsette.

Rosette was the tribe’s executive administrative officer when the tribe started an online payday lending company. He and Morsette later became officers of Plain Green, the online lending company the tribe started after shutting down its first online lending company.

Neither Rosette or Morsette were in custody before showing up to court Monday in Great Falls. After the sentence hearings, Morsette was taken into custody and Rosette is expected to self-report.