The United States Attorney’s Office of the District of Utah filed a complaint Wednesday against the group that calls themselves the “Uinta Valley Shoshone Tribe” for selling hunting and fishing licenses on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. According to the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the law allows the U.S. to seek a civil injunction to stop what they consider in this case to be wire fraud while they conduct a further investigation. “The Ute Tribe is the only tribal entity authorized to issue hunting and fishing licenses within the reservation,” shares the release. “The Uinta Valley Shoshone Tribe is not recognized by the United States and has no legal authority over the lands or resources within the Uintah and Ouray Reservation.” The civil complaint also names three individuals including Uinta Valley Shoshone Tribe chairwoman Dora Van, director Ramona Harris, and wildlife director Leo LeBaron. According to the complaint, Ute Fish and Wildlife Officers and Utah DWR officers began receiving information in late September regarding the illegal selling of hunting and fishing licenses. Some individuals that received licenses from the Uinta Valley Shoshone Tribe had even used them to take deer, elk, and fish from the Ute Tribal Lands, passing the “No Trespass” signs on the Ute Tribal Trust Lands. The civil action filed asserts that these licenses are null and void.
