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Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

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  • Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

    Has anyone been to Rolling Hills Casino in California? Seems like they are having some major problems there!

    Tribal Council Works to Physically Shut Rolling Hills Casino

    On Monday, June 9th at 6 am, the Paskenta Tribal Council began physically closing the Rolling Hills Casino. It will remain closed until Tribal Council can resolve the disputes within the Paskenta Tribe and remedy the illegal operation of the Casino by unauthorized management and attorneys.

    "Our number one priority is public safety, and that is why the physical closure of the Casino is necessary. It is not safe," said Paskenta Tribal Council Vice Chairman David Swearinger. "Until we are sure that the Casino is safe, we ask the public to allow the Tribe to resolve this internal matter. Once order is restored, Rolling Hills Casino will reopen and provide the public with the gaming experience it has come to expect."

    The closure was initiated by the Tribal Police Department, at the direction of the Paskenta Tribal Council. Utilizing a system of barricades and a clear police presence, the Tribe has been turning away customers, eliminating the threat to public safety and ensuring patrons and employees are out of harm’s way.

    "This police action is being conducted without direct conflict with the armed security force that has occupied the property for nearly nine weeks," said Paskenta Deputy Police Chief Erik Nilssen. "The property will be closed until the Tribal Council directs the Paskenta Police Department to stand down."

    The operation is in response to the military-style armed takeover of the casino and other tribal properties by non-tribal forces on April 12. At that time, the management of the Rolling Hills Casino and then-Chairman Andy Freeman attempted to take over the Tribe’s government and enterprises. They also attempted to banish certain members of the Paskenta Nomlaki Tribe and its tribal council. That attempt was unlawful under the Tribal Constitution and federal law.

    The Tribal Council that existed on April 11, was made up of five people. Four of five of those people are still united as the Tribal Council. One of those people, Andy Freeman, has refused to participate in Tribal Council business and, with rogue management of the Casino, has attempted to run it as their own private enterprise.

    On May 16, after repeated attempts at reconciliation with Mr. Freeman, the Tribal Council voted to close the Casino. The action was in response to the fact it was being illegally operated by someone other than the Tribe, as recognized by the National Indian Gaming Commission in a letter dated April 21, putting it out of compliance with the state compact and federal laws, and jeopardizing the casino's operating license.

    The Management of the Casino did not follow Tribal Council direction.

    During that time, the Tribal Police Department, under the leadership of then Chief Clay Parker, conducted an investigation of casino management activities, which yielded a series of reports detailing a culture of criminal activity and regulatory breeches by those in control of the casino.

    After several attempts to resolve the conflict through internal and external political and regulatory mechanisms, the Tribal Council gave direction to the Police Department to find an appropriate, safe way to take the casino back.

    Following several tactical reviews to determine the most prudent action, with the least conflict, keeping public safety as the first priority – the Tribal Council approved the action which began Monday at dawn.

    "Given the inaction by officials at all levels of government, and the renegade group's refusal to negotiate, the Tribe had to take matters into our own hands," Swearinger said. "We are pleased the action is seeing success and, most importantly, we are relieved it is providing a safe remedy to an explosive situation."

    All actions taken today have been in coordination with the Tehama County Sheriff's Dept.

    "I want to thank the Tehama Sheriff's Department for providing oversight and presence to ensure communication was clear and everyone is keeping a cool head," Nilssen noted.

    Since Friday of last week, the Paskenta Police Department has been working with the Tehama Sheriff's Department to function as an observer and to assist with communications.

    Tribal Council members have committed to work toward resolution of the conflict with internal discussions, in keeping with the Paskenta Constitution.

    "Ultimately our goal here is to put our government back in order and correct the processes and procedures that have been undermined in the last nine weeks, leaving our casino vulnerable to underhanded operators," Swearinger said. "Paskenta is a young government, but we are rich in tradition and we pride ourselves on maintaining a culture of honesty, fairness and success. What happens next will be very important."

  • #2
    Re: Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

    An update on the problems.

    Paskenta Tribal Council Recognized As Tribe’s Governing Body


    CORNING, Calif -- After a nine-week leadership dispute, late Monday, June 9th, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recognized the duly elected Tribal Council of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians as the governing body of the Tribe. Four members of the Tribal Council – Vice Chairman David Swearinger, Treasurer Leslie Lohse, Secretary Geraldine Freeman, and Member-at-large Allen Freeman – had been excluded from governmental buildings and the Tribe’s Casino by rogue Casino management and attorneys for Chairman Andy Freeman.

    Non-Paskenta Casino management and armed security guards, who have occupied the Rolling Hills Casino for nine weeks, have been ordered to cease and desist from trespassing at the Rolling Hills Casino.

    The Tribal Council is working today to immediately restore peace and calm to the Tribe and restore its control over all Tribal assets. The Tribe is taking immediate steps to remove unwanted persons from Tribal lands, including persons illegally operating Rolling Hills Casino.

    "Thanks to the letter from the BIA, and our coordination with local law enforcement, we are hopeful that order can be restored quickly," said Paskenta Vice Chairman David Swearinger. "We have a long way to go to get our tribal government back on track. But taking back our assets and having clarity regarding our leadership is a strong first step."

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    • #3
      Re: Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

      Here is an Associated Press article on the situation - Deputies descend on casino as members of Northern California tribe fight

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      • #4
        Re: Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

        Here is a press release that was sent out today saying things are getting worse.

        Violence Breaks Out at the Paskenta Casino

        For more than nine weeks, the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians has been in a state of government upheaval, which has led to general chaos within the tribal community. However, on Wednesday evening, the chaos hit a violent low point, when four members of the duly elected and federally recognized Tribal Council went to the Rolling Hills Casino to meet with the Tribal Chairman and the Casino’s CEO and was met instead with an orchestrated, hostile mob of about 100 people – some who were tribal members, many who were not.

        The Tribal Council consists of Chairman Andrew Freeman, Vice Chairman David Swearinger, Treasurer Leslie Lohse, Secretary Geraldine Freeman and Member at Large Allen Swearinger, per a June 9 clarification letter from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Chairman Freeman has been working with a faction that has been trying to overthrow the Paskenta government and on April 12 took physical control over the casino. Since then, the Tribal Council has attempted to meet with the Chairman on several occasions, but he has consistently cancelled informal meetings with Vice Chairman David Swearinger, and in mid-May, he cancelled a formal mediation that had been calendared through a professional mediator.

        Before Wednesday, the Tribal Council had not attempted to enter the casino property because given the armed presence, they felt it was unsafe. However, they made the move on Wednesday after representatives from several state and federal agencies told them that, as the Tribal Council, they should just walk onto the property because they are the owners. So they did.

        The Tribal Council members, who were unarmed and operating in good faith, were physically pushed, verbally abused, threatened, taunted and ultimately blocked from entering the facility. Tehama County Sheriff’s officials at the scene refused to intervene. The Casino CEO and upper managers, who are not members of the tribe and who orchestrated the unrest, stood on one of the casino decks, watching the melee, drinking cokes and laughing. With the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, Tribal Police attempted to enter the casino parking lot to extract the Tribal Council, but were met with hostile resistance and were unable to get to the Tribal Council for 45 minutes. In the end, the Tribal Council was able to leave the tribal property, without incident, but with grave concern for their safety.

        One member of Council, Geraldine Freeman, a tribal elder who is ironically a cousin of the family that was mobbing, was pushed down on the asphalt, spraining her wrist and sustaining injuries to her back and neck.

        “They just pushed me. I’m an elder and they pushed me down. And law enforcement just watched the whole thing,” said Gerri Freeman, who holds the position of Secretary of the Tribal Council. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It all broke my heart.”

        The Tribal Council held firm and endured the physical assaults and verbal threats for more than four hours, finally leaving the facility around 10 pm, when the sun fully descended.

        The incident strengthened the Tribal Council’s resolve to continue their efforts to regain control of the casino and protect the Paskenta tribe and its members.

        “Paskenta has never been a violent tribe. The Nomlaki people are peaceful and respectful of government process,” said Tribal Council Vice Chairman David Swearinger. “As we stood there enduring that behavior and language, having people tell us that they were going to kill us, we became all the more resolved that we must save our tribe. We are a tribe of about 300, and only one family was represented last night. They were a fraction of the mob, but these are the people who have been attempting to take over the government. If we leave our peaceful members in their hands, there is no question our tribe will cease to exist.”

        The Tribal Council on Thursday communicated with tribal members who are supportive of their leadership, letting them know about the incident and telling them that they had directed Tribal Police, their lawyers, and loyal staff to hold firm, but stay safe. The Tribal Council noted that mobilizing the mob was a desperate act by casino management, adding that they were aware of reports that managers had been cleaning out their desks, preparing to flee if federal officials sweep the building. The Council added that the managers had run away when they saw the four council members and two gaming commissioners enter the parking lot, “putting our people in front of them, like cowards.”

        “The safety of our tribal members and patrons is our first priority,” Swearinger said. “We continue to be baffled that the NIGC has not closed the casino when we, the federally recognized Tribal Council, are not able to even enter the casino, much less run it. I am personally shocked that the Department of Justice and the Attorney General aren’t out here to lock down the facility until this leadership issue can be resolved. This is dangerous – truly dangerous. At one point we were told someone had been shot; everyone started to panic. It wasn’t true, but that’s the kind of thing that can create bloodshed. And it was never more clear that outsiders are creating this unrest. They were laughing at us. In many ways this is history repeating itself. But it also made me very focused that we have to stay strong and see this through.”

        ###

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        • #5
          Re: Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

          Here's an article from the Sacramento Bee Newspaper about the current situation - Northern California tribe splits into armed camps over casino profits - Capitol and California - The Sacramento Bee

          Since "every adult member of the Tehama County tribe gets $54,000 a year" you can see why they are all fighting over the casino and its profits.




          Last edited by SteveBourieOLD; 06-16-2014, 01:12 PM.

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          • #6
            Re: Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

            It seems that the state of California is now getting involved in the dispute.

            State files suit against tribal factions - Appeal-Democrat: Corning Observer

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            • #7
              Re: Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

              The latest update - Tribal dispute prompts judge to temporarily ban firearms at Rolling Hills Casino - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee

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              • #8
                Re: Troubles at Rolling Hills Casino in California?

                An interesting article about the whole situation from The Washington Post - Grocery bags full of cash, a missing jet and the armed fight for a Native American casino - The Washington Post

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