Previous Mashpee Chair Cedric Cromwell Faces Penalty for Casino Bribe Payments
Last updated on: November 16, 2022, 03:46h.
Philip Conneller
In the realm of gaming business and tribal governance, a striking development unfolded recently, with a Federal judge in Boston sentencing the former Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe chair, Cedric Cromwell, for accepting bribes.
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Guilty Verdicts and Punishments
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On November 16, 2022, Cedric Cromwell was sentenced to three years in prison, following his conviction for bribery. Alongside Cromwell, David DeQuattro, owner of RGB Architects, was handed a sentence of one year of probation in home confinement with electronic monitoring. Both were also fined $25,000 and $50,000, respectively.
Gaming Business,
Bribe Scheme
Regulation,
The incident unfolded when DeQuattro offered three bribes to Cromwell in exchange for securing an agreement to safeguard RGB's $5 million consultancy contract on the $1 billion First Light Casino Project in Taunton, Mass. The contract, subject to termination with a week's notice or a month's notice for convenience, provided Cromwell with an opportunity to solicit bribes in exchange for favorable or unfavorable actions.
Tribal Gaming.
Investigations and Evidence
The case against Cromwell and DeQuattro involved evidence suggesting that DeQuattro had paid Cromwell $10,000 through a shell company called One Nation Development. Subsequently, he provided Cromwell with a secondhand fitness equipment and a weekend stay at an expensive hotel.
First Light Casino Project Jeopardy
The First Light project, sponsored by Genting, was on the brink of breaking ground in 2016. However, a federal court ruling and subsequent Trump administration order led to the tribe's land being removed from the trust, leading to the potential loss of gaming rights and the casino.
Cedric Cromwell to three years in prison for accepting bribes.
Recently, under the Biden administration, the administration affirmed the tribe's sovereign land, breathing new life into the project. It seems the casino project may have a second chance.
back from the dead.
Fall from Grace
Cromwell's indictment by a federal grand jury in November 2020 led to his removal from office by the Mashpee Tribe. The scandal marred Cromwell's reputation and undermined public trust in tribal governance.
This case highlights the importance of ethical leadership and transparency within tribal governments, serving as a sobering reminder of the consequences of corruption.
The article from Casino.org's Gaming Business section shares the news of Cedric Cromwell's sentencing for accepting bribes in a casino scandal. The div with class 'panel__author' features a link to the author of the article, Philip Conneller, under the 'figcaption' tag with 'noreferrer' attribute. The casino involved in this scandal is the First Light Casino Project, which was facing potential jeopardy due to a federal court ruling and Trump administration order. Following Cromwell's guilty verdict, he was sentenced to three years in prison, with fines totaling $75,000, and the news of his conviction was published in a div with the class 'panel__content'.