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March
23 2001
FBI Agents
Seize Casino Documents
FBI agents took
possession of records from the Cahuilla Creek Casino on Tuesday
amid internal allegations by tribal members of embezzlement and
theft, according to officials. Casino officials handed the
documents to agents from the FBI's Palm Springs office to ensure
they would be available for review by the National Indian Gaming
Commission, said Riverside County Sheriff's Lt. Daryl Birney.
Before an investigation can begin, the casino's financial records
must be audited to determine if a crime has been committed, Birney
said. Names of suspects or the amount of money involved in the
allegations were not available. Visitors at the casino, which
remained open Tuesday, were unaware of the situation. A statement
sent by Tribal Chairman Antonio Heredia Jr. said the casino
commissioner's office `is under siege by a few tribal members
calling themselves the Cahuilla Tribal Council for the purpose of
recovering evidence that may incriminate themselves as well as
former employees and non-members of wrong doing ranging from fraud
and embezzlement.
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