One day after being accused of running Snoqualmie Casino illegally by replacing its gaming commission with the Tribal Council, Tribal Chairwoman Carolyn Lubenau said a new commission has been selected and is being directed, in the interim, by the tribe's police chief.
Lubenau said the selection of three new Snoqualmie Gaming Commissioners was made Thursday, and had no connection to a lawsuit filed last Friday or a report on accusations included in the litigation by KING 5 the day before.
The lawsuit, filed by former SGC Chairman William Papazian, outlines a deteoriating relationship between the commission and the Snoqualmie Casino staff it is required by law to oversee.
According to federal law, tribal gaming agencies/commissions must be independent from the casinos and tribes they watch.
Lubenau said Thursday the problems between the SGC and the casino had nothing to do with Papazian, but the Executive Director and Manager he hired.
"We want professionals," she explained, "You have to be above reproach. You can't have tantrums."
Lubenau said commission staff frequently threatened to pull gaming licenses from casino personnel "for no reason". The tribe, she said, conducted two independent investigations.
"It was very clear, if we wanted to have our gaming commission functioning in the way we want to go, we need to terminate those two positions," said Lubenau.
Papazian refused to go along, according to Lubenau and court documents, and resigned.
"It was very amicable," recalled Lubenau, "He said in the resignation it was a family matter."
Beyond what led to his departure is what Papazian alleged has happened in the interim, the SGC being filled with the Tribal Council.
Just one day after the situation became public, Lubenau said changes have been made. Thursday, three commissioners were appointed under an interim Executive Director, police chief Gene Fenton.
None of the commissioners have gaming experience, which is not required by law. Fenton is handling background checks for all casino employees, a task usually handled by the SGC.
"We won't be caught by surprise when things are not working right," said Lubenau, "We can fix things before they get to this point where they unravel so quickly like they did."
As for why Papazian would file a lawsuit against his former employer, accusing it of "fraud", "racketeering", and "money laundering", Lubenau thinks the answer is simple. Money.
14 comments:
This sounds so fishy!! If SGC commissioners are suppose to be independent from the casinos and tribes, then the council is choosing the commissioners and having the tribal police chief do background checks and the commissioners do not have to have experience yet the chairwoman claims that they want professionals, it all sounds like they are setting themselves up to be corrupt and get away with it. Don't know though, I could be wrong.
Aren't Pechangas "gaming commission" actually members getting per cap?...how could that be independent?..why would they want to report that the machines were actually fixed to lose?...it would cut into their per cap payments if there were more wins....a tribal member isn't going to turn on their own tribe and report thefts and slot fixing....
HEADLINE:
Pala chairman Robert Smith now denying TANF a federally funded program to disenrollee's by signing (and lying) on federal TANF documents that they are not descendants or native of Pala. "If someone's biological parent is an enrolled member of Pala how can their child, even though disenrolled not be a descendant"?? Answer me this please! He really does whatever he wants he is a DICTATOR..when will someone stop this man??
HEADLINE:
Pala chairman Robert Smith now denying TANF a federally funded program to disenrollee's by signing (and lying) on federal TANF documents that they are not descendants or native of Pala. "If someone's biological parent is an enrolled member of Pala how can their child, even though disenrolled not be a descendant"?? Answer me this please! He really does whatever he wants he is a DICTATOR..when will someone stop this man??
If TANF is federally funded then he is committing fraud. you should contact TANF and register a formal complaint of fraud or contact the DOJ and report federal fraud.
Already working on it
According to a phone conversation with the DOJ, it is illegal for him to do this, and anyone that has been approved for the TANF program, and is suddenly taken off should file a complaint with the DOJ. You can request the forms by mail, however if you request an interview in person, you can call and set up an appointment with an Agent of the DOJ in San Diego. They are very concerned about this problem and are going to persue all complaints filed with there office.
Pechanga has done the same thing. they told the people that they disenrolled that TANF was for tribal members only. how would a tribal member that has a casino per cap check qualify for TANF. isn't TANF grant money I wonder what Pala and Pechanga are doing with this TANF money.
Pala received over $20 million if grant money in the past 9 years for things like the school and streets, $20 million to a town with a population of about 350 that has a Casino providing funds for the tribe that also go to these same things. Where is all of this money really? There are no checks and balances for grant money.
The people being sued are speaking to the press in the name of the the Snoqualmie Tribe, when it is not the Tribe that has been sued. It is very specifically 5 people as outlined in the RICO suit. "This Complaint seeks damages against individuals who, individually and as a part of the unlawful enterprise they have created, managed, and operated, have imperiled the Tribe...."
Someone needs to follow the links. Why was James Contreras- a former ATF agent indicted for embezzlement- being protected by persons in the suit? And how can Gene Fenton be appointed as an 'independent commissioner' by the very Council members being sued for racketeering & money laundering?
Dig in, researchers- the answers are out there.
I just heard something strange about the Pala Chairman and one of there Lawyers.
Someone said that there is an irrevocable "slush fund" escrow account at Wells Fargo Bank opened
by smith and dickstien.and that thats where they are funneling millions of dollars from the Tribe
and they are the only benifactors of this secret escrow account.
If this is true you should report it to the DOJ. Its very easy for the DOJ to look up accounts and with a specific bank and names of offenders.
Where can I read about gaming commissioner? Who hires them? Federal law pertaining to who can be a commissioner? Can tribal members and their immediate families be given these positions?
Any help will be appreciated.
Sent the info to DOJ about slush acc. thanks for recommending it,
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