Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Jennie Miranda Issue: Is It Ethical Business Practice to Keep Silent on Pechanga's Corruption Within?

As we have posted earlier, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, which operates one of the largest casinos in the state, the Pechanga Resort & Casino, just held a special meeting to discuss the FBI case into former tribal chair Jennie Miranda and her son Larry Miranda.

This issue has been a long time coming, the FBI has been investigating for more than four years.   As commenter Attila the CPA said: They have boatloads of Casino records, bank records, tax returns, canceled checks, personal testimony and what not. Cases like this are complicated and take many years of investigation. The tribe owes a billion dollars to banks, has thousands of employees, and owes millions to the State of California. Law enforcement must move carefully or many people, and financial interests may be hurt.

Questions remain about the Pechanga tribal council's culture of corruption. Obviously, the council has known about this for years.

Why is it NOW that they bring this before the people?

Did Jennie Miranda's brother, Andrew Masiel, the head of the Native American Caucus of the Democratic Party in California, know about these crimes, or was it a complete surprise his sister had a lot more money?

Would Masiel be allowed to vote on any issue involving his family members at council meetings, or was he excused from those meetings? If not, can the tribal members believe he would not let his sister know what the tribal council found out from their investigator? Obviously, Jennie knew what she did, but she wouldn't have known what the investigator knew.

We've used the slogan, "If Pechanga will cheat their own people, won't they cheat their customers too?" for years. Now, it looks like more examples of how Pechanga has cheated it's membership. Couldn't the $50 million plus be shared between members? And how could the Pechanga Development Corporation be so inept, that they couldn't see what was happening? Where is the oversight?

And, shouldn't the people of CA expect their share? How can we be sure that Pechanga is accurate, when they say how much profit they are making?

Serious questions I think.

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

IS that true ? was there FBI and IRS security at the meeting?

If so, they own the tribe.,..

Anonymous said...

This should have all members on high alert. This is a classic example of the "Elected" making closed door decisions and not keeping the Governing body "General Membership" apprised of serious matters that will effect Pechanga forever. If the "Elected" really cared for it's people thy would keep tem in the loop. However, the "Elected" may have dirty hands in this and other matters.

Anonymous said...

Tribal sovereignty does not apply to criminal matters. Tribal leadership is duty bound to report crimes of embezzlement, extortion, bribery, fraud and tax evasion to law enforcement on a timely basis. Failure to report crime is itself a crime. The Gaming commission is responsible for instituting controls and procedures to prevent criminal activity. Tribal officials must sign an annual declaration to the auditors of the Casino ,and the tribal government, representing that they are unaware of any criminal wrongdoing under penalty of perjury.

Anonymous said...

OMG (Do I see a Notice of Violation coming from the NIGC)?

The tribe already has 2 from the NIGC ,...


Thank you,......well said they must uphold the provision of IGRA (The Indian Gaming Regulatory act).

I Find it hard to believe that gaming people could be so lame or corrupt as to allow 50 million dollars or whatever they were doing walk out of that casino.

If this is the case,we are talking about some serious prison time (and to the guy who said I wish the tribe could have handled this)thats not how it works!

As the above person posted there are laws that are put in place (for this reason).

WAS someone crying (extortion)? but failed to report it til now 15 years later (thats not gonna fly).

Anonymous said...

Tribal officials must sign an annual declaration to the auditors of the Casino ,and the tribal government, representing that they are unaware of any criminal wrongdoing under penalty of perjury.

(your dead in the water)count 1, for the council.

Anonymous said...

Larry Miranda took 4 million from the casino and you failed to report it (bye orange jump suit).

Anonymous said...

Correction... He took that from hard working people and didn't even have to pay it back. People lost their homes and had families to feed and care for.

Anonymous said...

I bet the next tribal member that steals a pencil "gets fired" haha!

Anonymous said...

Why isn't the mainstream media reporting on the Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson performances at the pechanga tribal meeting? That should have been headline news!!!

Anonymous said...

They will ,once larry is in handcuffs.

Anonymous said...

"Anonymous said...
IS that true ? was there FBI and IRS security at the meeting?

If so, they own the tribe.,.."

No! it was a hypothetical response to the poster who mentioned the concert during the meeting break.

Anonymous said...

To the tribal member that keeps posting,"do you think your above the law"?

Anonymous said...

I'd rather gamble my money in Las Vegas....

Anonymous said...

There is one person that needs to be held responsible for all of this and that is your Chief....he made sure all of the disenrolled were kicked out to build up his support base and sat by while the theft was going on...and only now that the Feds are involved is he pretending to do the right thing...he didn't give you people a real trial, yet Jennie is still getting her monthly check?...and I guess it was ok for her son to steal from the workers??...why did he allow him to stay a tribal member?...Jennie will probably argue that she is owed all that money because she was instrumental in getting you guys kicked out and thus raising the per cap for the surviving members...you should all be brought back into the tribe and this cancerous leadership should be replaced.....curious to see how much of this reported 50 million went for bribes to officials?..is that why all of a sudden the BIA guy jumped ship to go to work for the Mormons?...I bet Press Enterprise won't report on this either....they might lose some advertising dollars from the tribe.

Anonymous said...

This is a dirty affair, and it has been brought up for years. As more information is released, we will begin to see the big picture. It's really unfair to the people that this cancer has been allowed to grow for so long, but as a poster mentioned investigations take s long time. Millions of dollars have been funneled through a few individuals and this will allow the investigation to come to a quick ending. Remember indictments are in the works, and people will be appearing before a Grand Jury soon. Facing heavy fines, jail time people will spill and turn on each other. What will be left after all is said and done? The above poster is correct, but I believe all "elected" should go through a heavy audit, to clear themselves. This should be a voluntary thing, just to save the tribe and its name. It should be done, because you are elected to protect the tribe and you failed.

Anonymous said...

Mark Jenny and the rest of the crooked crime family. Keep up the good work. You guys are doin nothing but bringing down the whole chain of conspirators. We at pala appreciate you guys for bringing all this to light so that smith and our court jesters will receive the same prison fate that the rest of the money,power hungry,worthless waste of human flesh dictators all deserve. Hey Feds. Look at pala too. And don't forget the root of the evil in the dick stein law offices. Opening new offices every day in a casino parking lot near you. Stay tuned.
Again. Thank you conspirators,counterfeiters ,dictators. We all appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

These individuals should never have been enrolled in the tribe originally and everyone knows this. Now look at the history of this family, lies, fraud corruption, is anyone truly surprised. Everyone knows the history.

Why remove 1/2 of the Miranda line and the entire Hunter line? Mark and the council over ruled the decision to halt disenrollments, WHY? There had to be some reason, some payoff, if you will. Does anyone else remember Mark and Jenny always talking in a corner during tribal meetings? There has always been a hidden agenda. The entire council should be recalled.

The Enrollment committee should also be disbanded, each family should have a representative sitting on each committee or council for fair representation.

If the tribe does not clean house someone else will.

Anonymous said...

Well said!!!
The entire council should be recalled.

The Enrollment committee should also be disbanded, each family should have a representative sitting on each committee or council for fair representation.

If the tribe does not clean house someone else will.

Anonymous said...

let's talk picayune if you want to talk embezzlement...

dustin graham stealing half a million dollars from tribal housing????

a chukchansi gold casino promotional vehicle (motorcycle) found in the possession of dustin graham????

ALL past tribal councils at picayune consorting to dismember over a thousand chukchansi citizens from picayune to feed their own greed--IN WRITING???

jeff livingston was convicted and sentenced for theft as general manager at chukchansi gold to FOUR YEARS in federal prison for less....

guess 'ya gotta be a picayune tribal council member or picayune department head to "get away with murder", eh??? (or one of picayune's highly paid legal counsel who co-conspired and influenced the train wreck that IS the picayune tribal government...)

justiceforpaladisenrolled said...

For those of you who dont know or who have not already done so there is set up a petition for the white house. We need 150 signatures to get it online with the White House and 25,000 to get them to act on it it for Indian Civil Rights. go to http://wh.gov/Ed1 to sign the petition. You will first need to create an account (name city and email) it will then send you an email (within a minute or so) and you then click on the link and hit sign petition. Send this to family and friends who know of your situation. I also sent out a text to those in my phone book (sorry not all of you are in my address book) explaining why it is important they sign and sent it to a them this creates a direct link if they have a smart phone. Please everyone do this we need to get these congressional efforts exploding. I know that everyone can take just a few minutes out of their day to sign and send to friends and family. Once a person has signed if you scroll down on page it will show first name, last initial, city and state and what # signature they are.

Anonymous said...

Those a-holes had itm coming, it's about time, hope the moratorium people will be enrolled mfinally after fifteen years, yes get rid of the enrollment commitee they do nothing but collect checks get off yor butts commitee and do some work for the moratorium!

Anonymous said...

JOHN we need to call a governing meeting to get ready to take our Rightful Place as Temecula Band Of LUSIENO Indians and be prepared for the Tribal council currently to be replaced with our True Temecula Indians two from each clan as we nominated
The Original Temecula Lusieno Indians
SAYS POLYSQWALIS WHAT SAY YOU!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm one of the nominated tribal council, we voted at apish park.

Anonymous said...

Please go to http://wh.gov/Ed1 and creating an account and sign the petition to PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF NATIVE AMERICANS. We need 25,000 by june 1st for Obama to take action.

Anonymous said...

Where corrupt and cruel tribal officials feel they can throw out a hugh part of their tribe for no reason or upon no evidence and throw out 1989 Final Decisions by the federal government holding Margarita Brittain's was full blooded, then what are doing with the millions of dollars they control? Pechanga proves that unjust disenrollments and embezzling tribal money goes hand and hand. FBI needs to send some plains clothes investigators in and watch Smith jump. IRS needs to know what trips he and his family takes on the tribe's jets and if he pays the tribe back. Is he committing criminal IRS fraud when he and his fly on the jet to exotic places and claims it to be "tribal business"? Smith and cronies feel they are above the law of humanity so they have no qualms in sticking their grubby hands into tribal funds and handing it out to lawyers and buddies who conspire with them.

Anonymous said...

There's gonna be a "Revolution" in the tribes soon! It's what happens when the people are being treated unfairly by their government and are no longer willing to take it..it's coming soon!

Anonymous said...

People should not be scared to sign a petition that will give a voice to the wronged against a "you can't touch me I'm sovereign so I can do whatever I want " e c 's Right now that's how it is. Plain and simple. This will give a voice to all of us. If we have friends. Who ARE our friends. They will help us to get the signatures needed to fight these people who believe themselves to be untouchable. I hope as has been pointed out that we can edit this letter to give people more info to sway a decision on wether or not to support the 1000s of Indians that have been emotionally,ethically, and financially destroyed by the greed and corruption that has swept thru Indian land like small pox did in the days of old. I myself am a proud member of my local trade union. And we LIVE by the motto. United we stand. Devided we fall. And if we want a platform that can bring us to an equal fighting elevation. We need some stroke. And just simply complaining on a blog. Which I am grateful for to allow a open discussion and forum. We need a power that can give us that voice to combat this cancer.

Anonymous said...

My mom just told me what happened to Jenny Miranda. The funny thing is, Jenny recently told my mom that she took my mom and her sister out of the pending applications. So my mom got her hopes up. My mom had to pay for a DNA test with her sister while the other siblings get their checks. Note; my mom is the oldest sibling. As an educated Indian woman, I find it just sick that the membership can't or won't do anything to change our crumbling tribal government.

Anonymous said...

I met Andrew Masiel at a Democratic Native American Caucus meeting. I introduced myself as a disenrolled tribal member. His comment was "oh, your one of those". I think he knew exactly what his sister Jenny Miranda was up to.

Anonymous said...

How are the Masiel/Basquez related....always see on here the Masiel/Basquez crime family??

'aamokat said...

Ruth Masiel is a half sister of Raymond Basquez and Irhene (Basquez) Scearce.

They are the children of Francisca Leyvas but as a child Ruth was adopted by the Salazar (Flores) family, another family at Pechanga, so there is some question about whether she is related by blood to her siblings.

But even so, there is also some question marks as to if their mother Francisca is even related by blood to any Pechanga families.

Because her birth is listed as being in 1898 but she isn't listed on any Pechanga census records until about 1902 and, if I remember correctly without getting my census records out, she isn't even listed with the woman who is supposed to be her mother, Josepha Garcia, on any of the census records until even later than this so it is possible that Fransica herself, Ruth, Raymond, and Irhene's mother, was a step child of a tribal member but not blood of the tribe.

I wouldn't even have had a problem with them being in the tribe if their family have been among the people for a long time if they hadn't moved to kick out other families that actually have more proof of belonging than they do.

I would put the proof of our family, the Hunters, against their proof any day because even if anybody had any doubts as to if we truly belong or not, it should have been put to rest by the evidence we turned in to the enrollment committee.

And the Basquez/Masiel family still have question marks themselves if they truly belong or not.

'aamokat said...

add on to my last post, Francisca Leyvas' mother Josepha Garcia wasn't even married to someone named Leyvas, who reportedly was Mexican so not Pechanga, until a few years after Francisca's birth.

Josepha is listed as married to a Pechanga Indian Felipe Cascara on the 1898 Pechanga census, the year of Francisca's birth.

So are the Basquez/Masiels even Pechanga? I wouldn't have thought it was a big deal if they have been among the people for a long time if 1. they hadn't gone out of their way to kick out legitmate Pechanga families and 2. if they haven't caused so much trouble at Pechanga in other ways.

Anonymous said...

Wow they got nerve, I heard that before too. They had this planned for a while, with all the funds to accomplish it. We really need to go after the people who hold the classes on how to disenroll your membership. Or as they call it "correct the roles". As I call it Murder our bloodlines.

Anonymous said...

I heard that it wasn't just Jennie and Larry, but Anthony, Andrew and their sister Stella all got it! No more per-cap for them.

Anonymous said...

Really the corruption, lies and smoke and mirrors is bigger than what it looks like. Iceberg goes way under the water, and we are only seeing the tip of it right now. Scandals are being uncovered through a investigation that may last years. As soon as the indictments are handed out, we will begin to see how big the iceberg really is. It's unfortunate that the people of the band have believed what is being presented to them, rather than demanding a full audit. A full audit of every elected person. The feds will continue to turn the stones over one at a time, but the Band can step up and demand that the council audit itself before the law jeopardizes everything.

Anonymous said...

And which elected officials would be most interesting to you?? Council, PDC, PGC?

Anonymous said...

ALL Elected officials should voluntarily submit to it. If they have nothing to hide, no problems right? These elected officials could not stop corruption, now its time to stand up for the tribe.... Not behind or under it!

Anonymous said...

Talk about sending everybody down the drain. If you removed all the commission. Who would replace them. There aren't many people that know how to work with the state and federal government, still keeping the best interest of the tribes in mind. The ones that did no longer work there due to the corruption I guess. Stop the elections and start hiring people for their experience does sound good. How would you hire new council members though?

Anonymous said...

We elected a new tribal council already, at apish park

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Joseph Arsanis (former poker instructor to Pechanga tribe) said...

As an objective outsider that dated Jennie Miranda 1995-Dec 1999, was instramental in making the Dealer school successful, (casino Career Center) , was present when dealer school was sold to Jennie Miranda, and resold to a retired person (Roy) and was one of the first employees hired at Pechanga to teach Native Americans how to deal poker games I find this whole thing disgusting, sick. I was present when Anthony Miranda (the PDC President was cheating on his beautiful wife) with the bisexual Indian from another tribe and then he appointed her (who had no gaming knowledge) to the Casinos top position over other Indians from Pechanga. Yes he was smart, so smart that as a child he would prepare his own formula to drink. The PDC position went to his head, he felt like he was a king and would do as he pleased. Now you have all of the remnants of corruption, thefts, millions of $$ disappearing and no one found being guilty. I can recall when the tribe was paid $50 monthly, and $250 monthly then I heard of $22,000 monthly, then all the problems because of greed. I feel for the elders and others who were considered tribal members prior to the casino being built and $$ coming in there status changed to "can you
prove, document your heritage? I might have a story, personal info to say. Joseph Arsanis, I walked away from Jennie Miranda Dec 1999.

Joseph Arsanis said...

There will never be peace at Pechanga until something positive is done. Pechanga may be at risk of closing down, effecting many employees and Indians. You have got to make amends, you have to reunite all native Americans that have previously received per cap and the officials that may or may not be involved in there termination as tribal members and give ALL there monthly per cap payments. Continued snide, anonymous remarks are hurting the Luiseno Indians. The public itself may stop visiting Pechanga and then you would resort back to 0 per cap. I know there’s haters on the Rez but better to reunite before the shit hits the fan. Joseph Arsanis, former poker instructor who was first to bring training to Pechanga, I also lived on Rez for a few years. 9/10/19