Thursday, December 6, 2012

New Trial Order Bribery at Pechanga; No Action of Pechanga's OWN THIEVES Who Stole Hundreds of Millions.


Justice is being sought in what is now a BRIBERY case at Pechanga.  But unfortunately, NO JUSTICE is being sought by the THIEVES of Pechanga, who have stolen over 300 MILLION dollars from ousted tribal members.


A March 5 retrial date was confirmed today for two men accused of bilking the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians out of $4 million by skimming funds intended for the Temecula-based tribe's casino insurance.

In July, a Riverside jury deadlocked on whether to convict James William Riley, 49, of Corona and Ryan Jay Robinson, 42, of Temecula on all of the felony charges against them, resulting in a mistrial.

The men's attorneys, along with Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Jeanne Roy, appeared today before Superior Court Judge Helios Hernandez for a conference to set a date for a new trial, settling on the first week of March.

Hernandez ordered that both sides be ready to proceed then.  Riley and Robinson were indicted in February 2010 on multiple felony charges stemming from a scam that the District Attorney's Office alleges the pair perpetrated in 2005 and 2006.

Riley, a former insurance broker and partner at Riley, Garrison & Associates, faces several years in prison and six-figure fines if he's convicted of three counts of commercial bribery.

Robinson, the Pechanga tribe's former chief financial officer, faces the same penalties if convicted of the same crimes.

The jury in July voted 8-4 for acquittal on charges of grand theft and money laundering. Those counts have since been dropped, leaving only the bribery charges. On those, the jury hung 10-2 for guilty.

"The facts just aren't there regarding an intent to steal," Chris Jensen, Robinson's attorney, told City News Service at the time. "The prosecution seems bothered by the profits that (Mr. Riley) made, and they're trying to equate profits to theft ... The tribe might have been overcharged (on insurance premiums), but is that stealing?"

Roy alleged Riley and Robinson began their illicit activity shortly after Hurricane Katrina struck in September 2005. Commercial insurance rates skyrocketed following the disaster, enabling the defendants to justify exorbitant insurance costs from which they gained, according to the prosecutor.

She said Riley allegedly artificially inflated the tribe's property and risk insurance premiums to pocket large sums disguised as fees, with Robinson's complicity.

The prosecution contended that Robinson received $190,000 under the table for his participation. Jensen characterized the payments as "loans" that his client needed to pay down divorce-related debts.

According to Riley's attorney, Souley Diallo, his client never committed a crime, and the prosecution's case boils down to a misunderstanding of complex financial arrangements.

Both defendants are free on $25,000 bail.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Or from the daily stealing that they do on the tight as hell slots which are managed by the same people that get the per cap checks....a little self serving?...the "gaming commission" answers to Mark...that's not even legal at all in Vegas...I used to see the slot techs switching out insides of a loose machine.

Anonymous said...

When I used to go down to Barrona there were always tribal members with banners saying they were being cheated...that's something Pechanga and Pala members could do do visualize the tribal thieves....the old saying is "the squeaky wheel gets the grease!!"

smokeybear said...

Get "Real," Pechanga doesn't give a "Rats A.." about its "Membership, Just "Geed!"..."Eagle Eyes."

Anonymous said...

It's not Pechanga tribe I was talking about...it's the bad pr for the tribe that protestors bring!

smokeybear said...

Actually "Protesting" is about the only option "Available!" And they still don't give a "Rats A..!"..
"Eagle Eyes."

Anonymous said...

Is that true cuz everyone says they never win at Pechanga that's why they don't gamble there.

White Buffalo said...

The thing about winning the opinion of the public is tricky. There are at least two ways to do this. The first one is peaceful, yet it requires a lot of money for media advertisement for educating the general public and political lobbying for legislative action and the buying of votes at the local, state, and federal levels. This in its self is time consuming and never a sure thing because of the coordination of all of the different groups of people who have been affected by tribal corruption. Or there is the violent way of protest and organization. We have a model from the 70s aka ARM. Yes they were affective in a limited way, yet look at the cost to those who sacrificed. There is nothing romantic or heroic about dying for a cause that was created by those who are by definition our brothers and sisters. We have seen that our very blood will use any and all means to keep the power they have stolen, so understand that if violence is seen as the last means of action then be prepared to die or at least spend time in federal prison for the cause. How we act will have repercussions on our families and people for generations to come. Last if we use violence those of us who would lead will most likely not see the end result of what we start. This statement is just the tip of a larger set of actions and counter actions that will occur over-time regardless of the path. We have been on the peaceful path in my family since 2004 and it saddens me that so many of my family have had to leave the fight. I believe it is because living, working, and caring for families have left them without the time, money, and spirit. White Buffalo

smokeybear said...

Way to go, White Buffalo, I commend you, for the truth is not always what it seems..."Eagle Eyes."