Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Pechanga Corruption: Grand Theft Charges for James Riley/Ryan Robinson Dismissed. Judge Says Sister of Demcratic Party Operative Controlled What Was Going On

Judge said now-disenfranchised former chairwoman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians Jennie Miranda, controlled what was happening.  Was this also a reason why she and her son were sanctioned by the tribe?   The elderly Miranda is sister to Chairman of the Native American Caucus of the Democratic Party head Andrew Masiel Sr..

Sichel told Roy she was surprised that the tribe’s board members did not testify during the trial that they had relied on Robinson’s recommendations to them regarding the insurance contracts.
“The answer to that question is that the tribe’s board members would have testified that there were never any meetings, there were never any discussions, and that, as the defense pointed out, Ms. Miranda essentially controlled what had happened,” Roy said, referring to then-Pechanga chairwoman Jennie Miranda.


Sichel said she believed the bribery charges were “more disconnected” from the theft charges than the defense had argued, saying there was evidence of a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours … don’t make waves” relationship between Riley and Robinson.

OP:  It looks like the Masiel-Basquez Crime Family had their fingers all over the place.. Justice Department?  BIA?   Anyone.....anyone??




Read more at the Press Enterprise

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

The judge said that?????

OPechanga said...

Yes, I've added the link.

Anonymous said...

If the prosecution is going to retry this case then it looks like they will have to involve Jennie Miranda and council people. Or has money been put up to not pursue this and not involve Pechanga government.

smokeybear said...

"
And the "Plot Thick'ns!" So much "Skulldugger" attached to "Pechanga!"..."Eagle Eyes."

'aamokat said...

A mistake in the Press Enterprise story it should have said former Pechanga chairwoman Jennie Miranda, not then chairwoman.

Was Jennie even on the PDC board at the time the alleged incidents took place?

I don't remember her being on the board in 2005-2006 and if not, why did she have a say so in anything?

This doesn't stink to high heaven, as the saying goes, but stinks to pits of hell, as in evil.

Jennie and her family are also the ones who led the charge against disenrolling two large long time families in good standing, the Hunters and Manuela Mirandas, and they are the people who pushed having the moratorium.

By the way, Jennie isn't a Miranda but a Masiel, she was married to one of the Mirandas.

The Masiel/Basquez are the root of all that is wrong at Pechanga but it was us who, they say, should be and now are disenrolled?

Anonymous said...

Tick Tock Tick Tock! the clock is about to strike, right Tick Tock?

Anonymous said...

I guess the prosecutor, who will probably get no assistance from Pechanga, will hope to get Riley and Robinson to testify against each other on the bribery charges. That will be interesting.

Anonymous said...

Could this open the door for an investigation into Pechanga’s assets from the casino all the way to the tribe per capita and all pieces of the financial pie? We know that Jennie Miranda her son Larry Miranda and their relatives Anthony Miranda, Andrew Miranda and Raymond Miranda were caught illegally buying and selling slot machines and possible money laundering. Now Jennie is implicated in scamming insurance money from the tribe and the tribal government had people lie on the stand and would not testify all to cover this up. Now I heard that when the apish and the hunters were disenrolled people on the tribal council skimmed a percentage off of the per cap that went back to the tribe. Is this why Pechanga lied on the stand and tribal government did not testify because it opens up their financial crimes.

Anonymous said...

Could this open the door for an investigation into Pechanga’s assets from the casino

It already has, theres a case in Federal court involving the tribes per capita, and (moratorium) and the Riverside BIA.

Anonymous said...

It's about time they theirs !

Anonymous said...

do you know the case number or any details

Anonymous said...

Not really ,the Judge refused to dismiss the civil rights case.

The case is pending.

Anonymous said...

Mark, Jennie, Andy and their pals and lawyers will look good in orange jump suits and designer wrist and ankle bling.

Anonymous said...

Why is Raymond Basquez against you dis-enrolled?...is he a true Pechanga Indian?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Basques is to Pechanga..as Iron Eyes Cody is to real Indians.

They both learned to play the game, but they are not blood.

Anonymous said...

The Honor of one is the honor of ALL. The Pechanga tribal council protecting Jennie, still paying her insurance. Meanwhile hundreds of true natives have been dis-enrolled from their tribe. Her loyal corrupt Pechanga People have brought much shame on ALL Indian country. The Shame of Pechanga is the shame of all.

Anonymous said...

They cover for her because she knows all the dirt and can bury them in it....hopefully, they will all come falling down...it is a crime what they have done to you...you aren't being blocked because of bloodlines....because the ones blocking you have no bloodlines....little short Mark knows he is wrong but also knows he can't control you so he kicked you out....when will the Basquez/Maisels turn on him?..or he turn on them?...that's when it will get interesting.
Still I wonder...why would the tribe vote in a chief that doesn't even live on the reservation?..makes no sense.

Anonymous said...

The Basquez/Masiels already started to turn on Macarro when they recently tried to recall him.

For a long time we have been called the boys (and girls too) who cried wolf regarding the corruption.

But I have a feeling some of them may be crying now.

Anonymous said...

when this went down with the insurance was after a Hunter had served a term in the Pechanga Development Corporation. The Hunter family had taken the seat from Jenny Miranda. So, as the evidence unfolds Jenny still has influence over how assets are used even though the tribe had replaced her and the person who replaced her had served a term in PDC... I can't recall who replaced the Hunter in PDC... ANYONE?

Anonymous said...

I would not be surprise to learn that Jenny and her inner circle have diverted more than has been found. Could there be a family casino in Mexico? Laundering all that new found monies that have been stolen from the Pechanga People. Possible, Plausible, Probable, likely... see they knew if they were ever discovers as frauds by others willing to stand up to them they would need to feed their greed by other means.

Happening...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

NOW EVERYONE KNOWS FOR CERTAIN


Right Mark?

Hey Butch, did you help set up how the funds would be stolen too? You were, voted into the tribe. you were in PDC with her when this all started, you voted to kick out legit members to save asses of not legit.... tick tock time

Anonymous said...

Mark Macarro was Tribal Chair from 2005-2007. I think the Press Enterprise meant to say that Jennie had been a prior chairperson.

Is there any checks and balances in their system? No term limits and no auditing? No wonder there are problems in paradise.

Anonymous said...

Let’s not forget Butch and Jennie were head of the splinter group when they tried to take the reservation from true Native American Indians.

Anonymous said...

The judge was referring to Anthony Miranda, not Jennie. It is a mistake made by the Press Enterprise.

The D.A. lost the wind in their sails. The birbery can't stand on its own. Riley and Robinson were just doing their jobs, as usual. Riley has been known to give money away to friends and strangers. Very large and small amounts, cars, tuitions, etc.
All of these other things everyone is referring to is completely unrelated to the case. Some things are not conspiracy theories. I don't want to minimize what Pechanga has done to their own people. Bad things happen to good people.

Anonymous said...

So it’s just a coincidence that Anthony Miranda was involved in this insurance scam and was disenfranchised from Pechanga for illegally selling and buying slot machines and possible money laundering.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Riley wrote Pechanga's insurance since the late 90's. Pechanga needed insurance, Riley provided it to them. Not sure how that is a scam. ONE TIME Riley makes above and beyond his "common" commission and it's a scam?? Ludicrous! Yes, Anthony had a part in decision making for the insurance. Pechanga needed it, Riley provided it. Why would Riley need to bribe ANYONE to continue to keep Pechanga's business. And if it wasn't competitive why isn't he being charged for "overcharging" for all those years. Crazy how something so elementary and ridiculous can be "turned into" a scam.

I've heard from legitimate sources that Mr.Miranda was the major reason there even IS a casino. If thats true, you should probably not bite the hand that feeds you. Just my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Yes Anthony Miranda had a big part of the development of the casino. So that means the tribe did him wrong when they disfranchised him for 100 years for illegally buying and selling slot machines and possible money laundering. Committing RECO act violation and taking money from Pechanga that should not be looked at what is wrong with them he started the casino they should be thankful. This is another wrong that Mark Macarro and the council have done. Some people should be above the law for what they have done for others.

Anonymous said...

How can the Board, Commission, and Council move forward and do right by the membership when they take one step forward and two steps back because they have to cover their own misdeeds or those of their family? It's a full time job remembering what you have done wrong and keeping it from others, which leaves little time to do right by the membership. They act above the law and deserve to be in front of the law their actions.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone seen anthony or those people working at the casino?

So we no the story is true about jennie?

Anonymous said...

All you people do is talk, kinda like a sewing circle, it's useless, your never gonna be re-enrolled! how long has it been?, and don't give the shit about it's all about the heritage, it's all about the money, so give up already!

Anonymous said...

No

Anonymous said...

It’s not about heritage tell that to the families that are still on their original allotment. Yes the money has a part on this because it was stolen from them and it is a tribal benefit that was taken to give others that some don’t even meet the qiutra for tribal membership (Leyva line). Nobody said this was going to happen overnight and I’m in it for the duration.

Anonymous said...

What a joke....why should you give up?..so the Basquez clan can get more money?or the Macarro group?..keep fighting and in fact..fight louder and harder...the casinos are hurting because of the economy and Karma is biting them in the ass...how are they going to pay all those loans and the per cap?...soon enough the per cap is going to shrink even more or another large block of people will be kicked out....you need to replace the leadership from the top down and lose the stink associated with Pechanga.

Anonymous said...

Another anonymous said "Committing RECO act violation and taking money from Pechanga that should not be looked at what is wrong with them he started the casino they should be thankful". First you can look further south concerning other casino openings. Then we need to look into theJohnson Act as far as moving machines without authorization. If it shows Anthony gave the approval to sell and ship the machines, then he has screwed himself even more by charges by the Feds. Larry Sr. made the casino, not Anthony. He was just a part of it, not the visionary. Lame if you put the glory on Anthony. The tribe also approved going through with opening a casino in the first place.