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Federal Investigators Require Documents, Records and Communications Associated with Taunton Casino Project

A federal grand jury has summoned a limited liability corporation to court in relation to the stalled Taunton casino project.

As revealed by MassLive after obtaining a copy of the subpoena, the federal investigation team have called for the Gaming Authority of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe – a five-member board entitled to oversee the First Light Resort & Casino – to hand over the records, documents and communications associated with any agreements and contracts it inked with Robinson Green Beretta Corp., the casino architect.

Among other things, the fully-executed Consulting Services Agreement originating from May 7th, 2014 inked between the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Gaming Authority and Robinson Green Beretta Corp., is also requested by federal officials. The agreement must be handed over along with all amendments, modifications and internal communications associated with it from that date through the end of 2017.

This is not the first writ ordering entities or officers within the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to present special information to court over the last few months. Back in June, federal investigators required the tribe to present information associated with its finances. Then, a couple of months later, the grand jury required information regarding the 2013 and 2017 elections of Cedric Cromwell, who occupies the position of Tribal Council Chairman. A little over a year ago, subpoenas for Gordon Harris, the sitting treasurer of the tribe, and Robert Hendricks, who preceded Mr. Harris on the position, were issued by federal investigators.

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Faces Reservation Land Issues

The latest subpoena is made a few months after the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was told by the US Department of the Interior that its reservation is set to be annulled and its land taken out of trust as part of the long-lasting legal battle regarding more than 321 acres of land in Mashpee and Taunton.

The original lawsuit was started by neighbors of the proposed casino resort project.

In a separate court action at the beginning of June 2020, a US District Court’s judge for the District of Columbia ruled that the decision of the Department of the Interior to take the land out of trust contradicted the law, and it was also an abuse of discretion.

According to experts, the economic prosperity of the tribe depends on the success of the lawsuit for the $1-billion Taunton-based casino resort. A compact has been negotiated between the state and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, in which the Indian tribe would pay 17% of its gambling revenue in return to the exclusive rights to operate a category 1 casino in the area.

Gambling Operations of the Tribe Provoke Transparency Concerns

Sources familiar with the situation informed MassLive that after receiving the second subpoena, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council made a move to remove Mr. Crowmer from his position. The attempt, however, had no success, as three council members backed the proposal to remove him from power and five voted against it.

For the time being, there is not much information about the way the gaming authority operates. An audit of the government services department of the tribe held by Walker and Armstrong LLP, the authority had accumulated debt amounting to $375 million as of January 2017. According to sources close to the matter, the debt has increased to over $500 million since then.

In the audit report, the tribe’s Gaming Authority was described as a component of the tribe that has been discreetly presented. Reportedly, over $17 million in real estate and cash were transferred by it to tribal operations in 2016.

The latest court order comes amid long-time transparency concerns over the casino-related spending and poor management of finances. According to information provided by the former vice-chair of the tribal council, David Pocknett, the tribal members have not voted on an operating budget in two years, despite such a vote is required under the rules of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s constitution.

In a phone interview, Mr. Pocknett made claims that never had the tribe voted on a gaming authority budget.



 Author: Harrison Young

Harrison Young is an experienced writer, who started his career almost 8 years ago. Prior to joining our team at CasinoGamesPro, he worked as an editor for a small magazine.
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