The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians in California failed to make a full $12 million payment on $250 million in gaming debt. A faction led by Reggie Lewus took credit for making a $6.25 million payment. He blamed rival Nancy Ayala for shirking the tribe's financial responsibilities. "Instead of managing the casino for the benefit of all 900+ Tribal members, and instead of making the requirement repayments of the Tribe's loan, Ayala and her small faction of supporters have been seizing money for themselves," Lewis said in a press release. Ayala's group says it will make the rest of the payment -- by the end of the year. "We continue to work with the bondholders in an effort to become current on bond payments across the fourth quarter of this year," spokesman David Leibowitz told The Fresno Bee. The tribe is required to make two payments of $12 million a year. The first payment was bogged down by the internal dispute and has resulted in a court case in New York state, Wells Fargo Bank N.A. v. Chukchansi Economic Development Authority> Get the Story:
Tribal Dispute Boils Over in California (Courthouse News Service 10/21)
Chukchansi tribe misses half of casino payment (The Fresno Bee 10/18)
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