The Rolling Hills Casino. Photo from Facebook
A leadership and disenrollment dispute within the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians is affecting tribal casino operations. Chairman Andrew Freeman accused his rivals of trying to hack into the computer systems at the Rolling Hills Casino. The claim is true -- the other side admitted to the The Red Bluff Daily News that they were trying to disrupt operations in hopes of forcing talks on the ongoing dispute. The casino remains in operation but under heavy security presence, the paper said. And some payouts are apparently being delayed -- something Freeman's rivals are taking credit for. "[W]e have begun to shut down their ability to carry on transactions that are in our purview with the law," Leslie Lohse, the tribe's disputed treasurer, told the paper. The disruption has already drawn the attention of the National Indian Gaming Commission. An April 21 letter questioned who was in charge of the casino. "I have initiated an investigation into this matter to determine whether or not to recommend to the [NIGC] Chairman that a Notice of Violation be issued," Douglas Hatfield, the agency's director of compliance, told Freeman and his rivals. A notice of violation (NOV) could lead to the closure of the facility. In a similar case, the Meskwaki Tribe of Iowa was forced to shut down its casino amid a leadership dispute. Get the Story:
Paskenta tribal dispute goes cyber (The Red Bluff Daily News 5/22) Related Stories:
Ex-sheriff says no one looking into Paskenta Band theft claims (5/19)
Paskenta Band says leadership issues won't affect casino (04/22)
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