Former Mashpee Wampanoag chairman postpones guilty plea

January 21, 2009 05:09 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Sean P. Murphy and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Former Mashpee Wampanoag tribal chairman Glenn A. Marshall had been scheduled to plead guilty today to federal corruption charges, but a hearing in US District Court was postponed because he had a falling out with his attorney.

Marshall and his attorney, Robert Craven of Providence, "parted ways" on Tuesday, according to Assistant US Attorney Jonathan Mitchell, who did not describe what caused the rift. The move could jeopardize a plea agreement Marshall signed last month indicting that he would admit embezzling $380,000 in tribal money and steering tens of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to state and federal politicians. Under the 13-page agreement which Marshal signed on Dec. 11, he was expected to be sentenced to about three-and-a-half years in prison.

"A plea is not binding until it is entered in court" to a judge, Mitchell told reporters outside the courtroom today.

Asked whether he was concerned that Marshall and a new attorney would reconsider their legal strategy, Mitchell said, "Mr. Marshal is entitled to change his attorney and that would be something between him and his new attorney."

About two dozen people, including some of Marshall's former rivals within the tribe, gathered in the courtroom today expecting to hear Marshall admit to five felonies, which include the embezzlement of tribal money for groceries, trips and jewelry for himself and his family.

But Judge Rya Zobel made it clear no such plea would be entered, because Marshall was not represented by counsel. Zobel then arranged for attorney Paul Markham to become Marshall's lawyer, and set Feb. 11 for the next hearing.

The 59-year-old Marshall, a tall man with a ready grin and a distinctive gray ponytail, sat impassively alone at the defendant's table. After the proceeding, Marshall declined comment. Craven did not respond to telephone messages.

Marshall successfully led the fight for federal recognition of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in 2006 only to resign after admitting he lied about his military record and a 1981 rape conviction.

The charges outlined in court documents portray Marshall as converting a fund intended to promote the tribe's traditional fishing rights into a political and personal slush fund. The fund was stocked by outside investors in the tribe's casino's plans with $4 million between 2003 and last year.

The tribe plans to build and operate a $1 billion casino in Middleborough, though it must first secure federal approval to convert 500 acres in that town into a tribal reservation.