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Tonkawa fine upheld
Message was posted: 07:33 Sep 14th, 2006

User: rainman Rank: Casino Gold: 2516CG Contributor rating: 5280 Status: Offline

Casino news from http://nativetimes.com/ The federal agency that serves as a watchdog over Indian gaming says a fine levied against the former casino manager of the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma “was supported by ample evidence and that the amount of the fine was appropriate.” Edward Street and a firm he managed called Oakland Enterprises LLC were hit with $2.6 million in fines for running the Tonkawa’s casino without a contract approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission. Street and the firm performed day-day operations at the casino from November of 1999 and February of 2006, the NIGC said. What Street did “is a substantial violation and the fine amount indicates how serious the commission views the managing of a tribal gaming facility without an approved contract,” said NIGC chairman Phil Hogen. “In order to preserve the integrity of Indian gaming, this kind of blatant disregard for the laws must be met with action that will deter any entities from similar actions.” Street has had a series of problems with the feds and in March the Department of the Treasury hit Street and the Tonkawas with $2 million in fines for breaking a federal law called the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). According to a news release from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Tonkawas and Street “committed extensive violations” for failing to develop an “anti-money laundering program, failing to report suspicious transactions and transactions in currency, structuring currency transactions, failing to create and retain certain records, and failing to properly identify customers” when running an off-track betting parlor. Edward Street is the brother of current Tonkawa president Anthony Street Despite these problems, the Tonkawas have been allowed to continue running their Kay County bingo hall-the Native Lights Casino in Newkirk-after agreeing to pay penalties and adhere to NIGC-imposed conditions. Native Lights was closed for a brief period and then reopened after investigators from the NIGC’s Tulsa office conducted an inspection. Newkirk is the county seat of Kay County. Native Lights has several hundred gaming machines. The Tonkawas have 500 members. They are based in the Oklahoma town of Tonkawa-a short distance from Ponca City- and have been federally recognized since 1938.