As noted in the section on Indian gaming, the charge that Indian gaming
has been infiltrated by organized crime has been made. Competitors
and antigambling interests use that charge as an attack on Indian
gaming. Some researchers and industry observers are quick to point
out that, however, there is no evidence that organized crime has significantly
infiltrated Indian gambling operations. Others counter that inadequate
regulation and oversight make it harder to find evidence. But there
is ample evidence of attempts, some of which have met with success.
The Los Angeles Times ran a lengthy article on Mafia attempts to
take over an Indian gaming operation in California. The attempts
were ultimately unsuccessful. The information used
in the article was from a long-running federal investigation. The
same investigation eventually ended with the conviction of Richard
Silberman, the former State Director of Finance, on charges unrelated
to the gambling infiltration attempt.
There have been other incidents. Two tribal leaders who had complained
that Indians weren't getting a fair share of gambling profits at
another facility were later murdered. At the Barona Reservation,
a bingo manager was caught rigging games so that shills in the audience
could win. Later, he testified about mob involvement in a number
of Indian casinos throughout the country. Some of what he said has
been substantiated. These events did occur, however, during the
earlier years of Indian gaming.
|
