"Federal indictments against Robert Salgado Sr. for allegedly accepting bribes will cause more problems than the legal troubles ahead for the 67-year-old tribal chairman of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.

His Friday arrest following an FBI investigation created a public relations obstacle in the tribe's attempt to transfer 535 acres of golf course land into the Soboba Indian Reservation to build a resort casino near San Jacinto.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the San Jacinto City Council already voted to oppose the land transfer of the Country Club at Soboba and property where the tribe would like to build a new casino with a hotel up to four stories.

County supervisors want to study the proposal with tribal members to determine the effect of a casino on the area before lending their support. Public favor figures to be crucial to gain required federal Department of Interior approval.

The tribe, working hard to foster a good image, donated about $4 million to San Jacinto Valley community causes like the Ramona Bowl, the Hemet Library and Western Science Center. Rose Salgado, a member of the Soboba Tribal Council and the arrested chairman's sister, devotes her life to considerable community involvement."

Get the Story:
Bob Pratte: Arrest hurts tribe's image (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 10/28)

Related Stories:
Soboba Band leader accused of accepting bribes (10/26)