Former Massachusetts Tribal Leader in Casino Scandal Seeks Dismissal of Charges
Posted on: January 25, 2021, 12:06h.
Last updated on: January 25, 2021, 12:41h.
The former chairman of a Massachusetts Native American tribe is seeking to have federal bribery and extortion charges against him dismissed.

Cedric Cromwell led the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe from 2009 until his ousting last November. He’s accused of accepting kickbacks in relation to the tribe’s planning of a $1 billion casino resort in Taunton.
A federal grand jury found sufficient evidence to move forward with charges that Cromwell illegally received nearly $60,000 in payments and benefits.
Prosecutors say Cromwell took bribes from David DeQuattro, an owner of an architecture firm in Providence, Rhode Island. In exchange, DeQuattro’s company Robinson, Green, Beretta Corporation received a $5 million design contract.
Cromwell says he did not commit the crimes he’s accused of. DeQuattro has also pleaded not guilty and was first to file a motion to dismiss with the US District Court of Massachusetts.
Duo Claims Innocence
The Department of Justice alleges that Cromwell received $44,000 worth of personal checks written by DeQuattro to an entity called CM International Consulting LLC. The limited liability company is controlled by a friend of Cromwell.
Prosecutors claim that friend then wrote checks totaling the same value to a shell entity Cromwell formed called One Nation Development. DeQuattro also wrote a $10,000 check directly to One Nation.
Federal authorities additionally say DeQuattro sent Cromwell a Bowflex Revolution home gym and paid for a birthday getaway weekend for the former tribal leader.
In the motion to dismiss, attorneys for DeQuattro argue that the federal government has failed to prove that the payments and gifts show a quid pro quo.
In a separate filing, attorneys for Cromwell “requests that the Court allow him to join Defendant David DeQuattro’s Motion to Dismiss.”
Casino Holdup
As Casino.org reported last week, the Mashpee Wampanoag’s ambitions to build a casino resort likely have a better chance of coming to realization under President Joe Biden’s administration.
At issue is whether the tribe’s 151 acres of land in Taunton qualifies to be placed into federal trust by the US Department of the Interior (DOI). The DOI under President Barack Obama said it did. Under President Donald Trump, Interior said it did not.
Biden has nominated Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to head the Interior Department. If confirmed by the Senate, she would be the first Native American tribal member to sit on a presidential cabinet. She would also be the first Native American to lead the Interior Department.
Haaland has expressed support for allowing the Mashpee’s land in Taunton to be deemed sovereign territory.
Related News Articles
Related News Articles
The Top Celebrity Gambling Scandals of 2014
Hard Rock Casino Workers in Atlantic City and Florida Receive Cash Bonuses
Most Popular
VEGAS MYTHS RE-BUSTED: The Restaurant Atop the Landmark Hotel Revolved
Las Vegas Grand Prix Faces Massive Cost Overruns
Connecticut Dog Trainer Accused of Animal Abuse Was ‘On Casino Bender’
MGM Has $200M Cyber Insurance Policy, Stock Can Recover, Says Analyst
France Exploring Web3 Gambling and NFT Legislation
Most Commented
-
VEGAS MYTHS RE-BUSTED: You Don’t Have to Pay Resort Fees
September 15, 2023 — 14 Comments— -
Bally’s Chicago ‘Mosque’ Casino Draws Mistaken Outrage
September 15, 2023 — 6 Comments— -
MGM vs. Caesars: Cybersecurity Expert Rates Hacking Responses
September 21, 2023 — 6 Comments— -
MGM Resorts Suffers Cybersecurity Attack, System Outage Reported
September 11, 2023 — 6 Comments— -
Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Hear Cordish Appeal of Bally’s State College Casino
September 8, 2023 — 4 Comments—
No comments yet