Plea hearing in former Tribal Chair's fraud case postponed for three weeks

1.21.09

Hearing delayed for ex-Mashpee Wampanoag leader

BOSTON (AP) - A plea hearing in federal court has been delayed for the former chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe who is accused of fraud and embezzlement.

Glenn Marshall appeared before U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel on Wednesday, but his new attorney Paul Markham was given three weeks to review the case. Markham said Marshall asked him to take the case Tuesday night.

A new plea hearing is set for Feb. 11.

Marshall agreed in December to plead guilty to violating campaign finance laws while working with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. He faces 41 to 51 months in prison.

Marshall stepped down as tribal chairman in 2007, after it became public that he was a convicted rapist and had lied about his military past.