Imagine the discovery that could come out of this trial. And what other interesting information can also come, like the disenrollment actions by the Picayune tribal Council. Picayune disenrolled 50% of their tribe after the casino went up. They are a group of tribes including Pechanga of Temecula, led by Mark Macarro, Redding Rancheria, Robinson Rancheria and Enterprise that has used "disenrollment" to consolidate both power and money. Pechanga has taken health care from elders and children and are keeping hundreds of rightful members of the tribe OUT, so that they can collect over $350,000 per year EACH.
A jury trial has been set for 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 29, in Fresno's U.S. District Court for Jeff Livingston, the former Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino general manager who has been charged with theft.
The trial will be held in courtroom No. 4 before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill.
Livingston was arrested on federal charges of "theft by officers or employees of gaming establishments on Indian lands" at his Fresno home July 24.
He has entered a plea of not guilty.
The federal grand jury indictment claimed that Livingston had used Chukchansi credit cards for personal use for a Hawaiian vacation and down payments on personal vehicles.
Livingston served as the general manager of the Chukchansi Casino from 2005 through early 2008, when he resigned and was replaced by Bruce King.
A spokesperson for the casino stated in July that the investigation of allegations of wrong-doing against the casino by Livingston began in November 2007 by the Tribal Gaming Commission. The results of that investigation were turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Then a joint investigation by the State Bureau of Gambling Control and the FBI discovered Livingston's unauthorized purchases included a $20,000 down payment on a new Ford Mustang Shelby; a $5,000 down payment on a new Ford Fusion for the casino's former director of marketing; and a $7,000 PGA National Golf Championship golf trip package to Hawaii. The investigation led to Livingston's arrest.
At the time of his arrest, state Attorney General Jerry Brown's office said Livingston attempted to cover up the down payments by making it appear they were part of a 10-car purchase he made for a casino promotion.
Livingston could face up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted.
If Jeff is guilty, then I would be shocked. I worked with him and found him to be a very honorable person. He stood up for many of us that worked at the casino while being disenrolled by the Tribal Council. Once we were out, they ordered him to fire us. As he protested these orders and resisted, they had to do something to fire him but make it seem as if he was at fault so they could get out of his contract. Well, I would bet the farm that the Tribe has manipulated the documentation, or outright forged it...I know, because they did the same things to us as we got disenrolled.
ReplyDeleteBryan Galt
I would be willing to "bet the farm" that the FBI has numerous ways to prove Mr.Livingston was in fact responsible for everything he was accused of, how odd that Bryan Galt would be making false accusations and suggest that Livingston was set up because he protected the disenrolled group that still maintained employment at Chukchansi casino. This is a joke, Bryan Galt is obviously sore about the membership status that he and his family now hold, and is willing to say anything to make the tribe look bad. Picayune disenrolled many of its former members only after reviewing evidence that they did not meet criteria of membership. the process was necessary due to the fact that hundreds of people, not eligible for membership were receiving benefits for years before finally being put in there place. I think its very funny that Bryan would be so upset after losing membership when he makes all these claims that the tribe is so corrupt, why then Bryan would you go through so much trouble to be a part of something if it goes against your beliefs? it shouldn't be such a loss that you go out of your way to build websites and constantly write blogs bashing the tribe. I bet he would accept an invite back into the so-called corrupt tribe in a millisecond if offered. The tribe adheres to its constitution regarding enrollment, in the past this was not done, resulting in the disenrollments. I realize that it is sad to be disenrolled but do agree with the process, after all the disenrollees were being handed things that rightfully belonged to the real members that proved their lineage. I wish Bryan would talk more i the fact that the tribe is enrolling new members that have waited a long time to receive membership, but I don't think it would sit well with his theory that greed is the motive for disenrollment. He also doesn't explain why he had his membership taken from him either. I would like to point out a few discrepancies in Galt's above comment. First, never did the tribe fire anyone because they were disenrolled, If that was true then why do so many of them still work there? Why would it be Livingston's job to fire you or any of the other disenrollees? and the most ridiculous of all... the casino has an At-Will employment policy, meaning that they can terminate anyone (even the GM) for any reason, or no reason, at any time. they sure wouldn't need to go as far as creating such a fabrication just to get rid of him. but it sounded good! The documentation the Tribe received proving membership was submitted by the members themselves. If anyone was disenrolled it was because they did not meet criteria as stated in the constitution. If Galt met that criteria he never would have been disenrolled. A "Homestead allotment" was an allotment given to people that were settlers. Indians were not given the right to receive Homesteads. The reason as stated by Galt for his disenrollment was that he couldn't have been a descendent of an indian allotment because the allotment he claimed was Homestead! Please don't listen to the ignorance this man and his family breed
ReplyDeleteMistrial declared
ReplyDeleteU.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on Friday declared a mistrial in a criminal case involving a former general manager of the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino who was facing federal charges that he used a corporate credit card to steal from the casino.
Jeff Livingston, 50, was indicted by a federal grand jury on felony charges of theft by officers or employees of gaming establishments on Indian lands.
Jurors began deliberating Thursday afternoon after a trial that had lasted a good part of the week. O'Neill declared the mistrial Friday
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/04/30/1917292/local-briefs-5-arrested-in-valley.html#ixzz0prmCrtHI