The White Mountain Apache Tribe is currently embroiled in a case that's making headlines, with serious accusations directed towards its chairman, Kasey Velasquez, who is facing allegations of sexual assault against Wendy Ruiz, the tribe’s own HR Director. FOX 10 Phoenix previously reported on Ruiz's formal accusations lodged in June, and Velasquez's consequent decision to go on administrative leave pending the outcome of an ongoing independent investigation.
Initially going public in a July report, details resurfaced when Ruiz described the events of June 4th, where Velasquez allegedly crossed professional boundaries during a supposed routine interaction of requesting what started with casual and then longer hugs escalating to what Ruiz has characterized as sexual assault, Ruiz, who had been appointed as the HR director in November 2023, recounted to FOX 10 Phoenix how Velasquez "He puts his arm, his left arm around my neck, full. Fully around my neck where I could feel his elbow right under my chin," an incident that she stated left her praying with closed eyes, and when she protested that it hurt, he "squeezed even harder." Ruiz has since been on paid administrative leave and has not returned to the office as of the date of her interview.
While the tribal council voted to place Velasquez on leave, Ruiz expressed her discontent with the decision in an interview obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, pointing out that Velasquez, with his years of service and knowledge of policies and laws, "should've set this example as a leader for the tribe." Meanwhile, Kurt Altman, Velasquez's attorney, opted for a cautious approach in his public statement, emphasizing the need to respect the ongoing investigation and declining to discuss specific allegations against the chairman, which was noted by Yahoo News.
No fresh details have been offered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as their spokesperson redirected any queries to the FBI, which is also involved in the case yet remains non-committal, refusing to confirm or deny anything related to the investigation, per another report from FOX 10 Phoenix, the community waits for the conclusion of this serious inquiry as the gravity of such accusations against a figure in Velasquez's position of power has cast a somber light upon the White Mountain Apache Tribe, bringing forth concerns of governance, justice, and personal safety within leadership hierarchies.
