Litigation

Poarch Creeks refute bribery allegations in casino tax dispute

Thursday, September 17, 2015

The Wind Casino and Hotel in Atmore, Alabama. Photo from Facebook

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is firing back against a local official who was on the losing end of a lawsuit over taxes at one of the tribe's casinos.

The tribe won a court order preventing Escambia County Tax Assessor James H. Hildreth from collecting an estimated $22.3 million in taxes from the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel in Atmore. A federal judge agreed that Hildreth lacks authority in Indian Country.

Hildreth, though, isn't giving up. He is taking the case to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and has asked the county for more funds to pay his legal fees.

County commissioners are balking at the request. One of them noted that Hildreth and his attorney have accused the tribe of bribing the county with funding for various projects.

“What Mr. Hildreth has failed to mention is that the tribe has a history, which pre-dates the tax dispute, of being good neighbors and donating to many schools, law enforcement agencies and organizations throughout the state," Chairwoman Stephanie Bryan said in a statement posted by The Atmore Advance. "Last year alone, we donated $6.9 million."

Hildreth asked for an increase in his legal budget from $45,000 to $110,000 to prepare the appeal, The Atmore News reported. His attorney in the case is Spencer Bachus, a former member of Congress.

Get the Story:
Tribe releases statement in response to bribery claims (The Atmore Advance 9/17)
Is bribery afoot? (The Brewton Standard 9/16)
Commission divided on assessor’s request (The Atmore News 9/16)

11th Circuit Decisions:
Alabama v. PCI Gaming Authority (September 3, 2015)
Seminole Tribe v. Stranburg (August 26, 2015)