Block’s former owner told to pay or face prison time

By Kathryn Reed

It will take years for Eneliko “Sean” Smith to pay back the hundreds of thousands of dollars he owes South Lake Tahoe in back hotel taxes, but the payment plan has been increased.

The issue is whether he’s learned his lesson that he actually has to pay the money. This month is the second time a judge has told him to do so.

Eneliko Smith

“His restitution payments have been increased to about $1,000 a month, but the court has also told him that he can ask for reconsideration once he had his statement of financial affairs on file with probation,” El Dorado County Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe told Lake Tahoe News.

Smith operated The Block and Cedar Lodge hotels near Stateline. Both are now bordered up blighted facilities. The Block is owned by BMR Funding LLC and the Cedar Lodge is owned by First Credit Bank. The city has liens on both properties for delinquent TOT.

Smith was picked up in Las Vegas in June on a DUI charge, held there about a week before being extradited to South Lake Tahoe. He spent more than a month in the local jail before leaving town.

“The court gave him very firm and clear orders about future conduct, and most especially about not neglecting, as he had, his reporting responsibilities to the court and probation department,” Uthe said. “We have indicated that we will probably recommend state prison if he blows off probation and court a second time.”