Post by mdenney on Jan 21, 2007 18:56:30 GMT -5
7/23/06 - Response to allegations at Jackpot
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4 key employees at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel had there gaming licenses suspended last week and this kicked off an investigation with the National Indian Gaming Commission.
In a statement from Denny Prescott and the suspended employees- Steve Whitaker, Steve Bucholz, and Jim Koerner the latest demand for resignations at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel were triggered last week when Sheldon Peters-Wolfchild, chairmen of the Lower Sioux Indian community council suspended the gaming licenses of four key employees of the tribes Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel. The casinos general manager, assistant manager, controller and head of security were effectively suspended, since under federal and tribal law, they cannot work at the casino without valid individual licenses. In a news release issued Saturday, it was said that the employees were fired because they refused to provide financial information to the Tribal Gaming Commission. Tribal treasurer Dennis Prescott said the news release was an absolute falsification of the facts.
According to Prescott, fired general manager Steven Whittaker provided all the financial information requested. Under the tribes normal procedures, casino management provides financial reports to the Tribal Council showing current gaming proceeds, and then Council members allocate those proceeds to tribal members in accordance with their federally approved revenue allocation plan. Only Tribal Council members may make decisions affecting revenue allocation and per capita payments.
Whittaker said he received a subpoena last Tuesday from the Tribal Gaming Commission demanding that he appear at a hearing to discuss charges that he had failed to comply with the tribes revenue allocation plan. Since he had never exercised any authority or control over tribal revenue allocations. Whittaker said he asked permission to bring the tribal treasurer and his own legal counsel to the meeting. The Commission denied his request, so Whittaker declined to attend the hearing. Soon after, he and the other three employees licensed were suspended, and their jobs were taken over by others whose individual licensing status, according the statement remains in question.
Tribal members have petitioned Wolfchild, Adolphson and Blue to resign previously, but the three ignored the challenged according to Denny Prescott. The first petition was circulated shortly after the three officials, who comprise a majority on the Council, voted to add nine members to the tribal rolls in possible violation of tribal and federal laws. Members of the Lower Sioux Community asked the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) more than seven months ago to rule on whether the enrollments were legal, but so far the NIGC has failed to issue a decision. Dennis Prescott said he and other concerned community members have been told they can expect a decision on Monday.
This government has acted like a runaway train, Prescott said. The majority of community members now recognize that they made a very bad decision when they put these three individuals in charge. We are determined to undo that decision and put the government back in the hands of the people.
According to the information recently provided by Prescott and the suspended staff- a newsletter dated July 3rd was sent to all community members from Secretary Shannon Blue stating that were aware of the over distribution and were considering several options to come into compliance.
Denny Prescott also responded to the allegations that he was responsible for not providing financial information to the council-saying that in the past he has had to file a claim in court to have get access to some statements.
Both sides on these issued at the Lower Sioux Community and at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel want the general public and community members to understand that there have been no statements about closing there operations at the casino hotel made by the National Indian Gaming Association.
link below-
www.ask4direct.com/InfoRead.asp?id=KLGR&InfoID=222470
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4 key employees at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel had there gaming licenses suspended last week and this kicked off an investigation with the National Indian Gaming Commission.
In a statement from Denny Prescott and the suspended employees- Steve Whitaker, Steve Bucholz, and Jim Koerner the latest demand for resignations at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel were triggered last week when Sheldon Peters-Wolfchild, chairmen of the Lower Sioux Indian community council suspended the gaming licenses of four key employees of the tribes Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel. The casinos general manager, assistant manager, controller and head of security were effectively suspended, since under federal and tribal law, they cannot work at the casino without valid individual licenses. In a news release issued Saturday, it was said that the employees were fired because they refused to provide financial information to the Tribal Gaming Commission. Tribal treasurer Dennis Prescott said the news release was an absolute falsification of the facts.
According to Prescott, fired general manager Steven Whittaker provided all the financial information requested. Under the tribes normal procedures, casino management provides financial reports to the Tribal Council showing current gaming proceeds, and then Council members allocate those proceeds to tribal members in accordance with their federally approved revenue allocation plan. Only Tribal Council members may make decisions affecting revenue allocation and per capita payments.
Whittaker said he received a subpoena last Tuesday from the Tribal Gaming Commission demanding that he appear at a hearing to discuss charges that he had failed to comply with the tribes revenue allocation plan. Since he had never exercised any authority or control over tribal revenue allocations. Whittaker said he asked permission to bring the tribal treasurer and his own legal counsel to the meeting. The Commission denied his request, so Whittaker declined to attend the hearing. Soon after, he and the other three employees licensed were suspended, and their jobs were taken over by others whose individual licensing status, according the statement remains in question.
Tribal members have petitioned Wolfchild, Adolphson and Blue to resign previously, but the three ignored the challenged according to Denny Prescott. The first petition was circulated shortly after the three officials, who comprise a majority on the Council, voted to add nine members to the tribal rolls in possible violation of tribal and federal laws. Members of the Lower Sioux Community asked the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) more than seven months ago to rule on whether the enrollments were legal, but so far the NIGC has failed to issue a decision. Dennis Prescott said he and other concerned community members have been told they can expect a decision on Monday.
This government has acted like a runaway train, Prescott said. The majority of community members now recognize that they made a very bad decision when they put these three individuals in charge. We are determined to undo that decision and put the government back in the hands of the people.
According to the information recently provided by Prescott and the suspended staff- a newsletter dated July 3rd was sent to all community members from Secretary Shannon Blue stating that were aware of the over distribution and were considering several options to come into compliance.
Denny Prescott also responded to the allegations that he was responsible for not providing financial information to the council-saying that in the past he has had to file a claim in court to have get access to some statements.
Both sides on these issued at the Lower Sioux Community and at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel want the general public and community members to understand that there have been no statements about closing there operations at the casino hotel made by the National Indian Gaming Association.
link below-
www.ask4direct.com/InfoRead.asp?id=KLGR&InfoID=222470