A federal jury has found Dustin Parker and Nora Weber liable for running an illegal smokeshop called “Pipekeepers” on the Cayuga Nation Reservation. The verdict, handed down on Thursday, confirmed the pair broke federal law under the civil RICO Act.
Cayuga Nation Federal Representative Clint Halftown said the case shows that claiming to be a member of the Nation doesn’t give anyone a free pass to break the law. “The evidence showed they weren’t running a legitimate business,” Halftown said. “You can’t line your own pockets and try to hide behind your citizenship to avoid consequences.”
The Nation also charged Parker and Weber with violating banishment orders that barred them from the Reservation after a formal hearing. Both defendants will go through the Nation’s legal process and are entitled to due process.
Halftown added that the Nation has strict rules to protect its citizens and prevent illegal profiteering.
