Feds move to seize S. Tahoe assets allegedly scammed from Auburn tribe
By Denny Walsh and Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee
Federal agents are moving to seize 32 properties stretching from Sacramento to Hawaii to San Diego in an alleged kickback and money laundering scheme that they say drained $18 million from the coffers of the tribe that runs the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln.
Documents filed by the Internal Revenue Service in U.S. District Court in Sacramento late Tuesday allege that Sacramento developer Bart Volen and two others systematically siphoned off millions from the United Auburn Indian Community while they oversaw the construction of office buildings that now serve as the tribe’s headquarters.
The IRS is seeking to seize the properties — including condominiums in Hawaii, San Diego and South Lake Tahoe — that the agency says were purchased with money taken from the tribe in an overbilling scheme.
No criminal charges have been filed in the case, which targets Volen, tribal administrator Greg Baker and former tribal worker Darrell Hinz.
None of the three men could immediately be reached today.
They ought to tie these guys to the stake and burn’em like the old days. And roast Baker and Hinz real slow due to it being an inside job. I hate thiefs!
Oh my, imagine that! Nefarious criminals intertwined with gaming!
Lessee, wasn’t one of our representatives, Mr. Doolittle, tied to the scandal involving Mr. Abramoff and Mr. DeLay in overbilling other Tribes? No connection? It seems that “Nefarious criminals” and gaming are also tied to politicians as well.