CA Lawmakers Ready for Bill by APARTHEID Practicing Tribe: The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians

An online poker bill being drafted by two coalitions of influential California Indian tribes will likely be ready for introduction to state lawmakers next week.

Coalitions fronted by the "BAD ACTORS" of Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and another by the San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians met again on Tuesday to iron out additional specifics of the proposal. According to tribal lobbyist Jerome Encinas, discussions between the tribal factions are now 99.9% complete and the tribal-backed measure is nearly ready for perusal by lawmakers.

Quite simply, there are numerous tribes that are doing much worse to their own people than they accuse Poker Stars of doing.  Bad Actors, for Per Capita Theft of over $600 MILLION,  APARTHEID, Corruption...include the tribes:  PECHANGA, REDDING RANCHERIA, CHUKCHANSI, PALA, ENTERPRISE, ROBINSON RANCHERIA....  State lawmakers need to look deeply before they give these tribes ANY license.

The meeting went well,” Encinas told eGaming Review. “All issues are resolved and we are now in the process of setting up meetings with legislators to discuss how we move forward.”

While those tribes have resolved their concerns, yet to be decided is how the Morongo Band of Mission Indians will view the soon-to-be introduced proposal. The Morongo tribe has reached agreement on a partnership with PokerStars and a triumverate of the state's largest card rooms, and if unfavorable bad actor language is included in the new bill, don't expect the Morongo tribe to be sharing a peace pipe with Pechanga and San Manuel.

Dry Creek Rancheria to DEFAULT on BONDS: Do YOU STILL believe Disenrollments WEREN'T about the MONEY?

The business arm of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians notified investors Wednesday that it will default on millions of dollars in bonds used to build River Rock Casino near Geyserville.

The River Rock Entertainment Authority announced it will not be making the May interest payment due Saturday on two outstanding notes, automatically triggering a default on the bonds.

The tribe emphasized the Alexander Valley casino will remain open for business. But it remains to be seen how the default may impact investors and tribal members who receive payments from the casino’s profits.

“Although the scheduled interest payment will not be made, we want to assure our customers, vendors and employees that we are generating sufficient funds to operate our business and provide the excellent customer service that our patrons expect,” David Fendrick, the casino’s CEO and general manager, said in a statement.

Theft of Per Capita Reaches $770 MILLION. $500 MILLION PLUS for Pechanga Alone FOLLOW THE MONEY

OVER  three quarters of a BILLION DOLLARS, have been stolen by corrupt tribal councils and their leaders, including Mark Macarro of Pechanga and Robert Smith of Pala and the STOOGES, Reggie Lewis and Nancy Ayala of Chukchansi, among others.  Yet, 50 Democrat Senator's are concerned about namecalling?

They claim disenrollments and moratoriums weren't about the money, but the figures don't lie.   The Cherokee Nation is excluding descendents of their OWN SLAVES, which by treaty, should be in the tribe.  WHY?  Because 25,000 is a huge number even if the benefits are small.

The loss of tribal citizenship includes the loss of Federal recognition of Native Americans. Corrupt tribes are harming their own.That's something the Bureau of Indian Affairs, led here in California by Amy Deutschke, buries their heads in the sand to avoid.  They have avoided their duty to protect Native Americans.

We first wrote about this story in January 2011, and many of the numbers have been revised upward. We have reached the 10 year mark for the Redding Rancheria, which terminated the rights of their first Chairman, Robert Foreman.

Follow the Money....

From the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula CA:

The Hunter family has lost $2,073,000 per person, in per capita payments alone. We arrived at that figure by taking the last full year of per capita $268,000/12 months and multiplying that loss times 93 months of disenrollment. 95 adults at the time of disenrollment equals:  $207,630,500

Reconciling Moral Outrage at Tribes Like Pechanga, Pala, Redding, Paskenta, San Pascual, and Chukchansi, with Self Determination

I posted this first back in June 2007 and and it should be printed again as things have only gotten worse since then.  But DON'T WORRY, we have Senators writing letters about nasty name ealling .

I hope from what you read here, you do NOT get the impression that we are against tribal gaming. That is not true. The links tell the story of what's happening at Pechanga, Snoqualmie in Washington State and other reservations like Chukchansi and Pala since Indian gaming. Feel free to comment, they are open. And by ALL MEANS share on Twitter and Facebook, please.

Tribal gaming has helped many tribes in CA, come out of poverty, my tribe, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians included . Many of the Pechanga people are uneducated and I remember they were so excited when they qualified for a Target credit card. Unfortunately, with success, greed soon follows.  Instead of helping all their people, including those they placed in a membership moratorium hold, who rightfully belonged to the tribe they looked at who they could get rid of to increase their per capita checks.  And, unfortunately, the money hasn't made everyone happy.

But the facts are clear, most tribes have not treated their people as abominably as Pechanga, Redding Rancheria, Picayune Rancheria, Snoqualmie and others have treated their people. In fact it's more like Tribal Terrorism, using fear and threat to keep their voting membership in line.  Remember, too, the fewer voters, the easier it is to control

Reconciling MORAL OUTRAGE at Pechanga Tribe with Self Determination

Here is an excellent article by Sheryl Lightfoot about how to support sovereignty issues, while not supporting the actions when they are morally repugnant, such as Pechanga's disenrollment of 25% of their tribe in order to enrich the remaining members.

Sheryl Lightfoot Article

Apartheid at Pechanga Reservation. Yes, Segregation Too. YES, Senators, it's WORSE than Redskins Nickname

 We have written before on the APARTHEID system in force at Pechanga  . 

APARTHEID as described by the dictionary is:
a•part•heid
2. any system or practice that separates people according to race, caste, etc.

Pechanga is doing just that, determining that families with historical ties to the origins of the reservation are ‘no longer pure’ in their eyes. They may be Temecula Indian, but “they aren’t Pechanga.” Even though the expert hired BY Pechanga using facts in evidence determined that we were.

Here is what Pechanga members who have been stripped of their citizenship in the tribe have lost:

• Lost the right to vote
• Lost their rights to healthcare provided by the Pechanga government.
• Their children can no longer attend tribal schools, in fact some kids were RIPPED from the school by Tribal Rangers.
• They can no longer be buried in the reservation cemetery with their relatives.
• Have no access to tribal facilities
• Are not protected by the Tribal Rangers. Or in some cases FROM the tribal Rangers

Here is a copy of the letter that was presented to those people living on the reservation who are called "non-members" even though most are living on land that was given to their ancestor when the reservation began, roughly 90 years before council member Russell "Butch" Murphy was adopted into the tribe.

Threatening letter by Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro and the Tribal Council including Adopted Member Russell "Butch" Murphy    Click on photo to enlarge

The threat is very clear: Fine of $5,000 and exclusion from their own property. THAT is APARTHEID, pure and simple. The tribe is trying to force residents who own property OFF the reservation. Remember when they tried to Steal allottee’s water rights?  three years ago, and now trying to do the same thing.

Mark Macarro, have you NO shame?  Isn't paying your wife to write bills excluding Indians going too far?

Police Chief Says Money Beings Mishandled at Rolling Hills Casino. Paskenta Tribe Risks Shutdown of Casino

The police chief hired by ousted Tribal Council members of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians alleges that federal and state laws are being broken at the casino the tribe owns and operates.

"It's become very clear that laws are being broken and money is being mishandled at the Rolling Hills Casino, leaving the tribe in jeopardy of being robbed of millions of dollars, and potentially being forced to shut down their casino," Paskenta Police Chief Clay Parker said in a news release issued Tuesday. "But frankly I'm even more concerned about the seriousness of the situation with regard to the safety of tribal members, the public, and employees. Weapons violations, millions of dollars at stake, and regulators being systematically and physically removed from their posts is a recipe for a violent altercation. What has become clear is that the Paskenta Tribe is under siege, completely out of control of its casino, and unless a federal agency steps in, this could truly turn violent."

The laws violated, according to the release, include threats to public safety, improper payouts

Tribal Disenrollments "Like Being RAPED, and Then Going to the Person that Raped YOU for Justice"

I have been asked to bring this November 2008 post forward:

Tribal Disenrollments: "Like Being Raped, and Then Going to the Person that RAPED YOU for Justice"

A news story on tribal disenrollments and moratoriums had the perfect quote as a post title, from Carla Maslin, from the Redding Rancheria of Northern California. 400 Pechanga People know exactly what she means, having been "raped" of their citizenship, benefits and security by Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro, the enrollment committee led by Bobbi LeMere and certain members of the Tribal Council, Russell "Butch" Murphy and Andrew Masiel among them.

From that article:

Letter To 50 Democrat Senators Who Chose The EASY ISSUE Redskins Controversy Over What's REALLY Important in Indian Country.

United States Senate

Washington, DC  20510

Dear Senators,

We read with dismay that you are jumping onto an "easy issues" bandwagon, namely the NFL Washington Redskin's nickname.   While offensive to some, it seems too coincidental that you focus with laser intensity on this issue, while blithely ignoring the real issues in Indian Country:  Tribal abuses of their own people. This year marks a full decade of civil rights violations primarily by Native American tribes with casinos.  

Today, we urge you to be more serious about issues that matter in Indian County. Those issues include: 

Denial of due process: Tribal leaders have routinely committed acts to deny Indian individuals due process; equal protection of tribal, state, and federal laws; property interest rights; and voting rights. These actions have been carried out in gross violation of tribal and federal laws, such as the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, which were specifically enacted to guarantee and protect the rights of the individual Indian.

Shingle Springs MASS DISENROLLMENT is SHAMEFUL. CooK Family Harmed by NICK FONSECA's COUNCIL UPDATED with COURT FILING

In February and March we wrote about the issue at Shingle Springs.  Now, here are the details as provided to me by members disenrolled.   It looks like the tribal council didn't take ALL the evidence available into account and they used only what was needed to selectively disenroll one family.     This is a painful reminder that the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians did the same to our family, ignoring the report their own hired expert did for them.

50 Democrat Senators Think REDSKINS Nickname is MORE Important than Tribes That Harm Their OWN PEOPLE via Apartheid, Disenrollment and Theft of Per Capita.

50 Senators of the Democratic Party, including California's own Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, recently signed a two page letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking him to use the recent NBA/Donald Sterling controversy to get the Washington Redskins to drop their team name.

REALLY SENATORS? ;You grab the low hanging fruit of a nickname controversy versus those that you have repeatedly ignored?

Sen. Boxer IGNORES the issues of water rights theft by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians   of Temecula CA. ;In fact, she SPONSORED this Apartheid practicing tribe's attempt to steal water from reservation allottees.

Senators, the Chukchansi Tribe of Fresno has eliminated 60% of their tribe, turning of the heat to homes and stripping the citizenship of original language speakers.

Pechanga Tribe Wipes Out The Veterans. Shameful Memorial Days Since 2004

The Hunter Family, disenrolled from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians after over 200 years of living in the Temecula area have many veterans who served in our military.  Once the Pechanga Casino opened, corruption lead to exterminating these veterans from their membership rolls and history.

Pechanga Veterans of the Hunter Family

We salute our Pechanga Veterans for your courage, honor and commitment.

Cuevas, Felipe - Army
Cuevas, David - Army
Cuevas, Thomas - Army
Vasquez, Robert - Navy
Harris, William A - Air Force

What PAIN Tribal DIsenrollment Causes. From a Pechanga Woman

My cousin described on her blog what being disenrolled from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians means to her.  This was written seven years ago, when the hurt was fresh, and the tribal council led by Mark Macarro, was celebrating our family's removal:

With all this disenrollment going on my Rez in Pechanga I've had many of my people from the tribe and surrounding tribes come and talk and give their support from one Native heart to another. It's amazing you know to see your own people that you were sure you knew through new eyes.

I think the worst part of what I've come to realize from my disenrollment is how few Native people can really see what has been taken from me. It's a shame so many of our people are being blinded by money.But what keeps me going are those of you feel my heartache like your own without me having to say a word.

Thats what I mean when I say Native heart, I've found I can see it in the eyes. Eyes that express emotions shared by Native hearts from a shared pain that runs so deep in our souls we've come to recognize one another by the fire it feeds. I must thank everyone of you who come to me no different then you ever have, and those who come right out and bring it up, or ask how my family is, and most of all, all of you who say "FUCK UM!!" before I ever have too.

PUSHBACK on Last Nights Meeting at Pala, An OPEN LETTER

I received this via email from a disenrolled member of the Pala Tribe.  It's in open letter format to all who have been affected.   What are your thoughts?

To all the Disenrolled Tribal Members of Pala Band of Mission Indians,

Now is the time to get band together and place blame of our disenrollment where it really belongs.

If it was not for these two people (King Freeman and Willie Pink) and their personal grudge of over 20 years we would still belong.  No I do not support Robert Smith and his wrong doings.

Corpulent Robert Smith Holds Onto Power at PALA. Strips Civil Rights from 11 Members

Robert Smith, the porcine chairman of the Pala Band of Luiseno Indians , who was responsible for the extermination of 15% of his tribe, held onto power in a meeting last night.

Word from that Rez is that King Freeman and Willie Pink and the other 9 signatories of the takeover attempt have been stripped of their right to vote and attend meetings.

Dry Creek POMOS Halt Controversial Disenrollments

The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians has put a halt to the controversial disenrollments that kicked some longtime members out of the tribe.

Tribal members voted to place a 10-year moratorium on disenrollments in the approximate 1,200-member tribe, which owns River Rock Casino near Geyserville.

Sen Barbara Boxer Responds To Constituent's Letter on Pechanga's Theft of Water Rights (Attempted)

Submitted for your Amusement:

We have been writing CA Senator Barbara Boxer for help with the attempted theft of Temecula Indian Reservation allottee water rights.  Here the Letter, followed by her thoughtful response on the matter:

Honorable Senator Barbra Boxer

 I’m writing to you because of the Pechanga Water bill S 1219 you wrote. You have taken the stands that disenrollment is not your concern no matter how unjust or illegal it is by civil rights or the tribes own constitution.

But now you attack the disenrolled by taking the one thing the tribe can’t take our allottee status our allotment has been handed down in the family since President McKinley signed the deed. Nowhere is there a provision where allottees have to be tribal members but you are now willing to take what little rights I have left to benefit a corrupt tribal government. Pechanga was based on Temecula Valley Indians that became original allottees for member ship of Pechanga.

Cedric Sunray: NCAI Falls into the "SAFE ISSUE" Trap With the Redskins "Controversy"

This April 29 posting made me say…Really?

“NCAI condemns Donald Sterling’s appalling comments regarding African Americans. There is no place in modern society for that kind of hatred and discrimination. We also want to applaud the many athletes, sportscasters, corporations, and individuals who have spoken out against Sterling and his comments. It is encouraging to see so many people standing together and declaring that this behavior is unacceptable.”

 While there is no question the statements which have been made by National Basketball League (NBA) Los Angles Clipper’s owner Donald Sterling are beyond reprehensible, it seems highly ironic that the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) would make such comments when member tribes of the organization, such as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, created a wholesale, heavily funded campaign targeting the forced removal of their own tribal members based on their race (i.e. Cherokee Freedmen). Especially in light of the fact that the NCAI took zero steps to condemn or place sanctions on the tribe for the racist propaganda campaign they undertook. In fact, NCAI came out supporting the tribe’s “sovereignty” to do so.

PALA has EMERGENCY MEETING TONIGHT. WHERE is the $100,000,000?

PALA WATCH has this urgent message for all Pala People:

Every tribal member, please attend tonight's meeting and let your voice be heard.  There are about 643 Adult Members.  How many live on the reservation?  300?  400?  Everyone that can make the meeting should be there.

If you did not attend the first Emergency Meeting either because notices were torn down or you were afraid to participate now is your chance.

The Executive Committee invested $100 million (thats $100,000,000) to form Pala Interactive, an online poker company without General Council approval.  Is the General Council really ok with this? That's $155K per voting member.

PASKENTA Tribal Dispute is Going CYBER: DATA BREACHING Claimed

The RedBluff Daily News has the story with claims and counter claims.  It might be safer to STAY away from the ROLLING HILLS CASINO: 

The ongoing dispute within the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians has seen allegations of embezzlement, thefts and falsifying of records, and most recently claims of data breaching and cyber attacks on Rolling Hills Casino.

GOOD GRIEF: SENATORS FALL into the EASY ISSUES TRAP Send letter to NFL to Change REDSKINS NAME

EARNING THE McENROE "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS" award, Democrat Senators fall into what  Cedric Sunray called, the EASY ISSUES Trap, going after headlines, not after what is seriously wrong in Indian Country.  NICKNAMES & MASCOTS are NOTHING but a shiny object to distract from the abuses tribes put upon their OWN PEOPLE.

CORRUPT PALA COUNCIL FIRING BACK at Those who EXPOSED THEM.

IT'S ON! CORRUPT PALA COUNCIL ROARS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!
Now they have called an EMERGENCY MEETING:

PALA RESERVATION in TURMOIL. Robert Smith's Spokesperson DOUG ELMETS Hasn't Deserted The SINKING SHIP

Well the Union Tribune has finally covered the activities at the PALA RESERVATION. 

An apparent power struggle has erupted at the Pala Indian Reservation after a group of tribal members claimed to have ousted the tribal council and installed a new executive panel.

PROMISES UNKEPT: Tribal Gaming FUND for POOR TRIBES in CA is TAPPED OUT -

When we expanded gaming, we were promised that the increased funds would help balance our budget.  That hasn't happened and most tribes did not put in the maximum amount of slots, either.    They never planned to.  It was a ruse to get more money into the general fund and leave poor tribes out in the cold.

Remember this video?  WE WERE WARNED!

Very Heavy Police Presence at the Pala Reservation Today in Anticipation of VIOLENCE UPDATE

UPDATE:   Robert Smith has apparently LOCKED himself into the building and won't come out without a federal order.    Four people have been fired but not clear whether he has the authority to do so.

VERY HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE at PALA Reservation, here's a video, not my choice of terms:

Post by Marcus Torres.

Pechanga Chairman's Cousin ISSUES MORON ALERT for Former SF MAYOR WIllie Brown

Pechanga Chairman Mark Macarro's cousin Victor Rocha who runs a website Pechanga . Net issues a MORON ALERT for former California Speaker WILLIE BROWN after Brown withdraws support for online gaming:

MORON ALERT:  Former California Lawmaker Flip-Flops On Internet Poker, Joins Adelson's Side TAGS: CaliforniaIndian GamingCalifornia Indian GamingLaw & PoliticsOnline Gaming Online poker players, especially those in California, have a new enemy.


 Willie Brown, the former mayor of San Francisco (1996-2004) and previously a California legislator, said last week that he is joining billionaire Las Vegas casino owner Sheldon Adelson in the latter’s quest to stop online gaming in the United States, the Los Angeles Times reported. Brown’s commitment to the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling is perplexing because of Brown’s previous work to support online poker legalization in the Golden State. Adelson Brown said he is the new national co-chair and California chair of Adelson’s coalition. “There are a multitude of reasons to oppose the expansion of Internet gambling,"

Brown said in an open letter about his flip-flop. “I was once on the wrong side of this issue—speaking for and supporting Internet poker—but I have since learned about some of the tactics used by online gambling companies to lure young people.” There are currently two bills in the California legislature that aim to legalize online poker—and online poker only—within the state’s borders. Both are up for consideration. California lawmakers held a hearing last month on the issue, which featured lots of expert testimony, but no action on either bill was taken. This year is an election year in California, so it’s unlikely either will pass before 2015.

PALA TRIBE Holds Emergency Meeting to SUSPEND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE and Chairman Robert Smith UPDATE

Major happenings at the PALA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS.   An emergency meeting was held on Saturday as detailed by the website PALA WATCH which has posts of the meeting notice, as well as an attempt by the corrupt chairman Robert Smith to ward off the meeting.

From what we gather, it was a good meeting and all items were passed, which would mean that Smith is suspended by vote of the general council.

Here is Robert Smith when asked WHY he didn't show evidence on the family they disenrolled:

 Apparently, MR. SOVEREIGNTY himself is going to the BIA!

 CHECK OUT PALAWATCH at the link above...

UPDATE:  Soon to be former Chairman Smith is being served today, removing him from office.

Paskenta Gaming Commission REVOKES Gaming License of Former Commission Member: $2 MILLION Misappropriated

The Paskenta Gaming Commission announced today the decision to revoke former Gaming Commission member Juan "Jon" Pata's gaming license based on recently discovered violations.

Jon Pata is a member of a family that was recently suspended from membership of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, the owner of Rolling Hills Casino, after recently revealed genealogical evidence established that the Pata family has no ties to the Tribe and they do not qualify for membership under the Tribe's Constitution.

Members of the Pata family had obtained leadership positions within the Paskenta Tribe, including Tribal Council positions and control of the tribal Gaming Commission, which regulates gaming at the casino.

After the Pata family members were removed from their positions, the Tribe's initial investigations uncovered misappropriations of tribal funds totaling over $2 million. The investigations also revealed that on October 10, 2013, Ines Crosby, a Pata family member and former Tribal Administrator, cashed a check at the casino cage for nearly $200,000 and left with grocery bags filled with cash.

Prior to that transaction, Jon Pata, Ines Crosby's brother and a Gaming Commission member, instructed the casino's surveillance staff not to watch the transaction and not to tell anyone about it.

Brandin Paya, current Tribal Gaming Commission Chairman, stated, "Rolling Hills Casino has always been a model operation for regulators and law enforcement agencies. They frequently requested to use Rolling Hills Casino as a training facility to demonstrate proper management and regulation. We are saddened by these revelations and intend to conduct a thorough investigation of past practices involving the Pata family and former Gaming Commission members. More importantly, we intend to continue to focus our efforts on working with the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), the federal regulatory body, and the California Department of Justice Indian Gaming Unit to ensure that we remain a model facility."

Tribal Casino Crimewatch: Nooksack Tribal Member Sentenced in $140,000 embezzlement Scheme

A Nooksack Indian Tribe member will serve 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release for embezzling more than $146,000 from the Suquamish Tribe in Kitsap County. Renee Pearl Peleti, 46, from Bainbridge Island, was an administrative assistant in the tribe's Indian Child Welfare Department for more than five years.

During that time, she used fraudulent checks, food vouchers and gift cards to pay for her groceries and bills, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. The Suquamish Tribe became aware in April 2013 that benefit checks for clients of the welfare department had been altered and cashed. Peleti had taken more than 260 tribal checks, totaling more than $90,000, to cash and use for bills. She also used tribal checks to pay her own Puget Sound Energy bills.
Peleti pleaded guilty in February 2014 and was sentenced Friday, May 9, in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Tribal leaders who spoke at the sentencing hearing said Peleti's embezzlement meant that some children didn't have that money for food, clothing, sports equipment or Christmas presents.  OP:   Isn't that a SHAME??   But, then, isn't that EXACTLY WHATS GOING to happen to the children of those who those SAME TRIBAL leaders plan to DISENROLL?

Rolling Hills Tribal Casino Dispute: Operations CEASED? Time to Just STAY AWAY??

A group that believes it is the duly elected governing body of the tribe that owns Rolling Hills Casino claimed Friday that casino operations have "temporarily ceased." A different group, which appears to be in control of casino operations, rejected the claim, saying it's business as usual at the casino.

Armed security guards clad in black uniforms and stationed on the grounds of Rolling Hills Casino also serve as a backdrop to the ongoing dispute over the leadership of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

The tribe owns and operates the casino, and at its annual General Council meeting April 12 that comprises all adult members of the tribe, a disagreement has emerged over the actions taken by the five-member Tribal Council. which governs the tribe and at the time included Chairman Andrew Freeman, Vice Chairman David Swearinger, treasurer Leslie Lohse, secretary Geraldine Freeman and member-at-large Allen Swearinger.

Andrew Freeman announced in a press release April 30 that members of two families in the tribe were suspended by a quorum of the General Council, and he alleged some of those members took part in the theft and misappropriation of more than $1 million of tribal funds. He added an investigation is ongoing.

Attorney Richard Verri, who said Friday that he represents the tribe, said members were suspended because they may not meet certain criteria to be members of the tribe. He also alleged that David Swearinger, Geraldine Freeman and Lohse vacated their positions on the Tribal Council after leaving the meeting while it was in session. New Tribal Council members, Verri said, were appointed by the General Council. They include Leticia Miller, vice chairperson, Ambrosia Rico, treasurer and Andrew Alejandre as secretary. Allen Swearinger is said to still be a member-at-large.

READ MORE:  

ROLLING HILLS CASINO DISPUTE

Man Who Stole from THIEVES at Pechanga, Convicted of Stealing from ANOTHER Casino at PAUMA

A former insurance broker for Pechanga Resort & Casino near Temecula who was convicted last year of bilking the tribe has now pleaded guilty to stealing from a San Diego County Indian casino, authorities said.

James William Riley, 50, was sentenced Wednesday, May 7, in San Diego County to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay $172,000 in restitution, according to a new release from the California Department of Insurance.

Riley was charged in San Diego County in January with multiple felonies, including theft and embezzlement involving the workers’ compensation insurance policy for Casino Pauma. He pleaded guilty in April to one count of grand theft.

Investigators said Riley failed in 2007 to return $172,000 in excess premiums resulting from fluctuations in the number of employees, which was his duty as a licensed agent. The loss was discovered in 2010 and prompted a criminal investigation involving multiple agencies and the Pauma-Yuima Band of Luiseño Indians, the release said.

“When Riley chose to follow his greed and rip off his clients, he violated his fiduciary responsibilities and their trust,” Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in a written statement, adding that workers’ compensation fraud costs California consumers billions of dollars every year.

Riley and Ryan Jay Robinson, Pechanga Casino’s former chief financial officer, were sentenced last year in Riverside County to two years, 8 months in prison for commercial bribery in connection with an insurance overcharging scam from 2006 to 2007 that cost the tribe millions. They had been indicted by a grand jury in 2010.

PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO Indians has stolen well over $400 MILLION from tribal members via disenrollment

Cherokee Freedmen Get Their Day in Court, Treaty Rights Violated By Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee Freedmen, represented by attorney Jon Velie finally got their day in court.  Arguments were heard in the Federal Courthouse, with members of the Freedmen from across the country representing their people.

Velie claimed it was a great day to stand up to racism.  While the Redskins nickname issue get the press, THIS IS RACISM AT ITS WORST.

this case has taken 20 years to get to this point. Let us hope and pray for JUSTICE.

UPDATE:  Cherokee Nation press release


Cherokee Nation Attorney General Todd Hembree issued the following statement regarding oral arguments in the freedmen lawsuit, case 1-13-CV-01313. Attorney General Hembree's statement is as follows: "After 11 long years of litigation, the Cherokee Nation is looking forward to having a judge decide the longstanding issue of what rights, if any, the freedmen descendants are granted under the Treaty of 1866.

The Cherokee Nation believes strongly in treaty rights and believes the correct interpretation of the treaty would allow the Cherokee people to determine who is a Cherokee citizen.

The Cherokee people have been a champion for human rights, having experienced cruelty firsthand during our forced removal from our original homelands in the Southeast along the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma. OP: Uh, yeah you jackhole...dragging your SLAVES WITH YOU...AS Property!!! For the Cherokee people, this issue has never been about race. As a sovereign nation, it's always been about Cherokees determining who our citizens ought to be.

Tex McDonald APPOINTED Chairman of Chukchansi. Not Voted in?

Charles "Tex" McDonald has been appointed chairman of the tribal council of the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians in Coarsegold, the tribe says Monday.

Monica Davis Johnson has been named to the post of vice chairwoman.

Mr. McDonald, elected in December 2013, had been serving as the tribe's acting chairman in place of former council leader Nancy Ayala, who had been suspended.

The appointments return the on-rancheria council to seven members. The on-rancheria council oversees the day-to-day operations of the Chukchansi Gold resort and casino, pays the tribe's bills and provides services to all the tribe's more than 900 members, including elder services, scholarships and worker assistance programs.

FBI INVESTIGATING PALA Corruption by Robert Smith and Theresa Nieto

The FBI is looking into corruption at PALA! FINALLY....

 Our friends at PALA WATCH have received some letters from the husband of a woman who worked for the Pala Band of Luiseno Indians and was terminated from her job while on FMLA.   She and her husband detailed a letter last month and now a second one is up at Pala Watch, we have linked to it here it here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/220994560/David-Cross-2nd-Letter-to-Pala-Apr-29-2014
Check out palawatch.com for MORE.

Rolling Hills Tribal Casino Had $1 MILLION Embezzled by Tribal Members: CASINO CRIMEWATCH

The Nomlaki Indian Tribe, also owners of Rolling Hills Casino, have suspended tribal members under investigation for embezzling more than $1 million.

Chairman Andy Freeman of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, owner of Rolling Hills Casino in Corning said the theft and misappropriation of tribal funds were carried out by certain members of the Henthorne/Pata family.

The Henthorne/Pata family was suspended by a quorum of the Tribe’s General Council on April 12.

Chairman Freeman and other administrators met with the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, Tehama County District Attorney, Corning Police Department and other officials to review the findings.

The suspended members held positions in the Tribe’s government and business operations, which gave them access to tribal accounts.

The investigation is now in the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office’s hands.

“Now that law enforcement is involved,” Freeman said, “we are going to allow the legal process to work while we focus on the health of the Paskenta Bank of Nomlaki Indians and its businesse