La Posta Casino Embezzlement
Colombo Candy & Tobacco Wholesale Co. Dba Colombo Distribution sued Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs in Douglas County Court, Tulsa. It claims its employee, Jane Doe, blew more than $3 million of the $4 million she embezzled at the Ameristar casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Colombo claims Doe worked as its controller from July 2010 to July 2012. Arlette Casino, 47, of Santa Rosa and Austin Caba, 38, of Burlingame are also accused of participating in the scheme. All three individuals were taken into custody Friday in their respective.
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By Miriam Raftery
March 8, 2013 (San Diego) – Troy Teague, former Executive Director of the La Posta Gaming Commission, pled guilty today to embezzling $57,000 from the la Posta Band of Mission Indians. The plea was made before Magistrate Judge Jan Adler, U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced.
The La Posta Casino (photo, left) shut down in October 2012. A letter written by Tribal Council Chairwoman Gwendolyn Parada to employees stated that the casino, located off I-8, would close “due to its current financial situation,” 10 News reported. The smallest of San Diego County’s casinos, at its peak La Posta employed approximately 100 people.
Teague, 38, served as Executive Director of the Commission from 2006 to 2011. He was responsible for creating the budget and maintaining records, issuing checks and monitoring payments on Commission credit cards.
“Despite the fact that Teague recognized that he could not use the commission credit card or bank account for personal expenses, he used both the credit card and checking account for personal business,” a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s office states. Those expenses included membership dues at a gun club, vacation expenses, Home Depot charges, car audio/video components, legal fees, a grain mil, restaurant expenses, car rentals, and entertainment including a comedy club bill.
Teague admitted that from June 2009 to April 2011, he embezzled a total of $57,000 from La Posta, concealing the fact that tribal credit card bills that he paid included his personal expenses.
“Today’s conviction proves that Mr. Teague exploited and violated his position of trust,” said Daphne Hearn, Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego FBI Field Office, “and unjustly enriched himself at the expense of the tribe,”
La Posta Casino Embezzlement Charges
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to doing its part to enhance security in Indian Country,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Burkhardt, community outreach director and tribal liaison. “The diligent prosecution of federal crimes committed on reservations is an important complement to State and Tribal law enforcement efforts.”
Teague, a resident of El Cajon, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with a three-year supervised release.
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Local news in the public interest is more important now than ever, during the COVID-19 crisis. Our reporters, as essential workers, are dedicated to keeping you informed, even though we’ve had to cancel fundraising events. Please give the gift of community journalism by donating at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate.| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 18 enrolled members[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (California) | |
| Languages | |
| Kumeyaay,[2]Tipai[3]English | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional tribal religion, Christianity (Roman Catholicism)[4] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Kumeyaay tribes, Cocopa, Quechan, Paipai, and Kiliwa |
The La Posta Band of Diegueño Mission Indians of the La Posta Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of the Kumeyaay Indians,[4] who are sometimes known as Mission Indians.
Reservation[edit]
La Posta Casino Embezzlement Number
The La Posta Reservation (32°44′04″N116°23′28″W / 32.73444°N 116.39111°W) is a federal Indian reservation located within the southern Laguna Mountains west of Boulevard, in eastern San Diego County, California. It is less than 10 miles (16 km) north of the US-Mexico Border. The reservation is 3,556 acres (14.39 km2) large with a population of approximately 18.[5] The reservation borders the Cleveland National Forest and is accessed only by one unpaved road that is usually fenced off to prevent trespassers.[3]
It was established in 1893.[6] In 1973, none of the 4 enrolled members lived on the reservation.[2]
History[edit]
Mission Indians are indigenous people of California who were forcibly removed from their lands and placed in Franciscan Missions during the mid-16th century because of Spanish settlers. There are approximately 21 Franciscan Mission within California starting from San Jose and ending in San Diego. Many of the Missions we see today were built by native tribes who forced to create these monuments by corporal punishment
Most of the Indians who lived within these Missions across California, were regional natives who had resided within these lands for centuries. The La Posta Band of Diegueño Mission Indians are a sub group of the Kumeyaay band of Indians. Evidence shows that these tribes have been present within California for more than 12,000 years. The La Posta Mission Indians share the same ancestral roots as the Kumeyaay people which began with the association the California Coast and Valley tradition and the Desert tradition.
Language[edit]
La Posta Band Mission Indians speak three languages English, Kumeyaay, and Tiipai The natives can speak three languages based on the geographical area in which they live. Tiipai is mainly seen in tribes of northern Baja California and Southern San Diego, which is known as Southern Diegueño. Since the reservation of this tribe expands 4,000 acres, some of its territory extends towards Yuma Arizona where their closest relatives reside. Tiipai belongs to the Yuman branch of the greater Hokan linguistic family.[7] This is one of the reasons why they have adopted the Southern Diegueño language. With regards to Kumeyaay, this tribe is able to speak this language based on its ancestral origins that derived from the Kumeyaay tribe, which they share similar languages, cultural and spiritual practices.
Government[edit]
The La Posta Band is headquartered in Boulevard. They are governed by a democratically elected tribal council. Gwendolyn Parada is their current tribal chairperson.[8] The La Posta Reservation is governed by a general council. Elected council members include a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a business manager. Elected members serve two-year terms, and the general council meets twice a year. The band is organized under an IRA constitution that was approved on March 5, 1973.
Economic development[edit]
The tribe owned and operated the La Posta Casino and Marie's Restaurant in Boulevard which closed in 2012.[9]
Education[edit]
The tribes education comes from the Mountain Empire Unified School District that was founded in 1923. The economic development of the district has increased over that last few years allowing it to now consist of two elementary schools, Pre-K through 8th grade; two elementary schools, Pre-K through 5th grade; two middle schools, 6th through 8th grade; one high school; an Alternative Education Program and a Transition Program which serves Special Education students after high school, ages 18 to 22.[10]
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^'California Indians and Their Reservations: P.'USD Library and Information Access. (retrieved 15 March 2017)
- ^ abShipek, 612
- ^ abEargle, 206
- ^ abPritzker, 147
- ^'California Indians and Their Reservations: M.'Archived 2010-07-26 at the Wayback MachineSDSU Library and Information Access. (retrieved 2 June 2010)
- ^Pritzker, 146
- ^'La Posta Band of Mission Indians'. Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^'Tribal Governments by Area.'Archived 2010-05-05 at the Wayback MachineNational Congress of American Indians. (retrieved 2 June 2010)
- ^'La Posta Casino.'500 Nations.(retrieved 2 June 2010)
- ^'About MEUSD'. Mountain Empire USD. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
Sources[edit]
- Eargle, Jr., Dolan H. Northern California Guide: Weaving the Past and Present. San Francisco: Tree Company Press, 2000. ISBN0-937401-10-2.
- Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN978-0-19-513877-1.
- Shipek, Florence C. 'History of Southern California Mission Indians.' Handbook of North American Indians. Volume ed. Heizer, Robert F. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1978. 610-618. ISBN0-87474-187-4.