The board of directors for the Seneca Nation's gaming corporation has asked its vice chairman to step down after being linked to a federal investigation.

But Bergal Mitchell III of the Seneca Gaming Corporation is refusing to step down, saying he is the victim of tribal politics. “It’s a Seneca Nation election year, and people are going to start rumors," Mitchell told The Buffalo News, which first reported the story earlier this week.

At issue is the skimming of money off the tribe's $2.1 million purchase of the Hickory Stick Golf Course. Sources told The Buffalo News as much as $900,000 is missing.

The FBI searched the office of a local attorney who started work on the golf course before selling it to the tribe. Another disbarred attorney who served time in prison is also apparently connected to the probe.

Get the Story:
SENECA GOLF COURSE: Land probe touches Falls (The Niagara Gazette 9/19)
What's Next for the Buffalo Casino? (WKBW 9/18)
FBI shakes stick at SGC vice chairman (The Salamanca Press 9/17)
FBI probes Seneca Gaming Corp.'s land purchase for Lewiston golf course (The Buffalo News 9/16)