When federal agents raided the Wichita offices of the Kaweah Indian Nation, Malcolm Webber told denied he had committed fraud and was confused how they could arrest him on "sovereign soil."

Nearly a year later, the man who calls himself Grand Chief Thunderbird IV is poised to wage a legal battle in federal court. Webber's defending himself against charges that he defrauded immigrants by claiming tribal membership conferred U.S. citizenship.

Trial begins Tuesday against Webber and the tribal corporation, the last two remaining defendants in the federal indictment.

Webber claims what he did was legal.

Last year, federal prosecutors indicted the tribe and 11 people. On Monday, another defendant was expected to become the latest defendant to abandon the chief and plead guilty.