A Prior Lake man has been acquitted of 26 federal charges in connection with the bribery convictions of the former chairman of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Craig Potts was acquitted by a U.S. District Court jury in St. Paul after a half day of deliberations.

"While we're elated with the result, this is a case which should never have been brought," said Potts' lawyer Roger Magnuson of Dorsey & Whitney. "Craig Potts was totally innocent of all these charges. This is a complete vindication for Craig."

Magnuson also noted in a news release that four other counts were dismissed by federal Judge Paul Magnuson during the trial. The Magnusons are not related.

Peter D. White, who was chairman of the tribe between February 2003 and June 2004, pleaded guilty last month to accepting one $1,500 cash payment on Aug. 1, 2003, and to accepting another $1,500 cash payment on Nov. 11, 2003. Overall, he was accused of taking several similar payments totaling more than $20,000.

An indictment alleged that Potts paid those bribes and engaged in a conspiracy so he could influence White and be rewarded with business contracts for his company, Cash Systems Inc., which provided check-cashing services to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the band's three casinos.

Magnuson said the government claimed that loans made by Cash Systems to the tribal chairman constituted illegal gratuities.

In a written statement, Potts said, "It's been a terrible ordeal for me and my family, but a tremendous relief to be found innocent of all charges by a unanimous jury."

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747