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

Picayune Chukchansi Casino Theft Trial Scheduled for March

Imagine the discovery that could come out of this trial. And what other interesting information can also come, like the disenrollment actions by the Picayune tribal Council. Picayune disenrolled 50% of their tribe after the casino went up. They are a group of tribes including Pechanga of Temecula, led by Mark Macarro, Redding Rancheria, Robinson Rancheria and Enterprise that has used "disenrollment" to consolidate both power and money. Pechanga has taken health care from elders and children and are keeping hundreds of rightful members of the tribe OUT, so that they can collect over $350,000 per year EACH.



A jury trial has been set for 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 29, in Fresno's U.S. District Court for Jeff Livingston, the former Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino general manager who has been charged with theft.

The trial will be held in courtroom No. 4 before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill.

Livingston was arrested on federal charges of "theft by officers or employees of gaming establishments on Indian lands" at his Fresno home July 24.
He has entered a plea of not guilty.

The federal grand jury indictment claimed that Livingston had used Chukchansi credit cards for personal use for a Hawaiian vacation and down payments on personal vehicles.

Livingston served as the general manager of the Chukchansi Casino from 2005 through early 2008, when he resigned and was replaced by Bruce King.

A spokesperson for the casino stated in July that the investigation of allegations of wrong-doing against the casino by Livingston began in November 2007 by the Tribal Gaming Commission. The results of that investigation were turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Then a joint investigation by the State Bureau of Gambling Control and the FBI discovered Livingston's unauthorized purchases included a $20,000 down payment on a new Ford Mustang Shelby; a $5,000 down payment on a new Ford Fusion for the casino's former director of marketing; and a $7,000 PGA National Golf Championship golf trip package to Hawaii. The investigation led to Livingston's arrest.

At the time of his arrest, state Attorney General Jerry Brown's office said Livingston attempted to cover up the down payments by making it appear they were part of a 10-car purchase he made for a casino promotion.

Livingston could face up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted.

Does Tribal Sovereignty Protect Tribal Officials from Racketeering or Embezzlement?

Frequent commenter to Original Pechanga's Blog Allen L. Lee says NO:

If the person implicated for criminal acts while serving as tribal officials are actually found guilty of racketeering or embezzlement while they were tribal officials, their is no tribal sovereign immunity for those crimes.

If the dis-enrollments and moratorium can be directly tied to racketeering by criminals who have a strangle-hold on the tribal government, then federal intervention may be warranted for both the dis-enrollments and the moratorium? Don't know for sure, but it looks like racketeering, embezzlement, and fraud should be investigated.

It would mean that every official act made by suspect government oficials was also suspect, including state gambling compacts, dis-enrollments and the moratorium, land into trust, BIA contracts, etc.

OP: It would seem like the Justice Department would take an interest in a tribal council that manipulates an enrollment committee to secure the outcome they desire: Getting families disenrolled to increase their own per capita payments. This is theft of government funds.

Also:

1. Refusing to follow the Tribal Constitution so that open enrollment doesn't allow in rightful members.

2. Refusing to follow the will of the people by stopping all disenrollments which was voted on after a petition was declared valid.

3. Allowing the enrollment committee to admit the family members of Bobbi LeMere to secure her vote against the Hunter family. This would be "against" the "valid" moratorium. Why were LeMere's family allowed in?

What's YOUR opinion?

KCET and PBS doing a story on Illegal Pechanga Disenrollments

Great news for THOUSANDS of California's Native Americans who have suffered under regime's like that of Mark Macarro and Andrew Masiel and the Masiel/Basquez Crime Family of Pechanga.

From Val Zavala's blog on KCET


This weekend I headed out to Temecula to begin shooting a most interesting story. It's about how some wealthy Indian tribes are kicking out certain members claiming they do not have proper ancestry. But long-standing members who have been kicked out say the "disenrollments" are due to political differences. Also at play -- money. Disenrollments mean fewer tribe members, and fewer members mean more money from gambling revenues for the remaining members. More than $30,000 a month.

The Pechanga Tribal Council is led by a familiar face, Mark Macarro. He's the telegenic Native American who appears in political commercials for Indian gaming propositions. The leader of the "disenrolled" is John Gomez. (See photo of John and family.) He says under Macarro's leadership hundreds of long-standing Pechanga members have been kicked out.

Tribal membership has gone from about 1200 to about 800. Monthly payments from gambling revenues have gone from about $25,000/ month to more than $30K per adult tribe member. No work required.

Much credit to USC News21 journalism student, Brian Frank, who first pitched the story and has done all the research. Thanks, Brian!

Brian and Val, THANK you for bringing this story forward, in this time of financial crisis for many in CA's Indian Country.