TURTLE LAKE, Wis. (AP) ~ Federal gaming regulators are accusing St. Croix Chippewa tribal leaders of pocketing at least $1.5 million in casino funds with little or no documentation or receipts.
The National Indian Gaming Commission’s Notice of Violation issued this month says the St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake issued 275 payments to seven tribal members totaling $562,246 from 2015 to 2017. The Journal Sentinel reports Friday that the commission lists a total of 527 violations of federal and tribal ordinances.
Regulators say some of the funds were used for trips to Hawaii and Las Vegas. The regulators say in some cases the only description and documentation for disbursing the funds were the words “travel” or “consulting fees.”
Fines for the alleged violations could exceed $27 million. The tribe can appeal the findings.
Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com
