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
and unlicensed gunmen and operators at the casino, among others allegations.
and unlicensed gunmen and operators at the casino, among others allegations.
Parker, a former Tehama County sheriff and current Red Bluff City Council member, has said he works for the whole tribe, but his authority has been challenged by members of the tribe in control of the casino and other properties.
Members of the tribe's Henthorn, Pata, Crosby and Lohse families were suspended during the tribe's annual General Council meeting April 12 because they allegedly do not meet criteria to be eligible members of the tribe. Additionally, four members of the five-member Tribal Council, which governs the tribe, were subsequently ousted and banned from the tribe's properties. Those members include Vice Chairman David Swearinger, Treasurer Leslie Lohse, Secretary Geraldine Freeman and member-at-large Allen Swearinger.
They maintain, however, that they are the "duly elected members of the Tribal Council," and reject the suspensions and the legality of their reappointments.
The tribe's chairman, Andrew Freeman, had previously announced the suspension of more than 70 members of the tribe, which is comprised of more than 300 members, and an attorney representing the tribe, Richard Verri, previously said the appointment of new Tribal Council members was carried out legally and in accordance with the tribe's constitution. Those appointments, and suspensions, he has said, were reaffirmed by the tribe at a General Council meeting May 10. General Council meetings are composed of all adult members of the tribe.
Andrew Freeman has also lobbed his own allegations of embezzlement and fraud against some suspended members.
In the news release issued Tuesday, it's said investigators from the National Indian Gaming Commission, "the federal agency primarily responsible for ensuring public safety and financial integrity in Indian gaming operations," were sent to the casino last week.
Shut down Pala and fix the mess there!
ReplyDeleteAll information on the corruption should be sent to the NIGC and other Washington entities.. Feinstein too...
ReplyDelete@ 8:58 AM, Maybe the NIGC but Feinstein would never ever help, she is on the side of the ECs, her husband is somehow involved in the building of the Indian Casinos across Calif, she and Boxer are both involved, they buddy up with Jerry Brown and the J street Gang. The only way she would get involved is if she was being looked into by the FBI. These politicians that say they are for civil rights are more about money than anything else, if it promises them some kind of financial benefit then they are all for it. It is unfortunate too because they fool the voters with their lies and obviously they are good at it.
ReplyDelete@ 10:41 AM
ReplyDeleteSo true. I believe everything your saying, and that's why we post their names on blogs and post, send emails, faxes and make calls. That's my contribution to them for helping the corrupt actors lie and think it's OK.
The National Indian Gaming Commission is a farce. Having worked in a very large Native owned and operated casino (not my tribe) I have seen their powerlessness firsthand. Money not only talks, it swears as well.
ReplyDelete