Feds Raid Seeno Empire Offices, Miwok Tribe Still Under Siege
Posted in America's with tags Albert Seeno verses the Miwok Nation, Assault on Miwok Tribe, Barbara Boxer, California Valley Miwok Tribe, Californian Corruption, Miwok Tribe, Theft of Tribal Lineage, Tribal Sovereignty on February 21, 2010 by buffalohair
In a Thursday morning raid 30 FBI, IRS and Secret Service agents stormed the offices casino mogul, land developer, contractor *Albert Seeno and his associates with search warrants in this quiet Concord California community. The exact nature of the raid was still under seal of the court. According to William Goodman, attorney for the multi faceted business empire the Seeno family was working with investigators to resolve the situation and were confident they would reach a positive resolution to the matter.
The smorgasbord of federal agents has caused some speculation as to the true nature of the raid and seizure of documents. Seeno enterprises rage from construction to casinos with a multitude of other lucrative businesses that span several western states including California and Nevada. The list of political beneficiaries to the Seeno family’s generosity spans both sides of the political isle Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barbara Boxer and good ole Harry Reid relished in tens of thousands of dollars in bountiful donations that filled their political coffers. Surely Arnie, Barbie and Harry would not have a clue what the feds might be looking for. Or are their nasty little secrets about to get exposed?
The media listed a host of past criminal complaints that were lodged against the Seeno Empire in the past ranging from environmental to financial foibles. Millions in fines and penalties have been paid out over the years by this firm and it would appear they are set to pay out more green stamps if criminality is found again. But the media as a whole forgot to make mention of a current complaint that was lodged against the Seeno empire and that is with the California Valley Miwok Tribe.
From court documents it was discovered that Seeno and associate Chadd Everone were involved in a multi state scam to remove members of a federally recognized **Native Tribe and replace them with non natives who would allow for the Seeno’s to build a casino in California. Apparently the Pepper MILL Casino’s Incorporated, A Seeno holding, was not happy with their lucrative enterprises in Nevada. Chadd was mentioned in one complaint selling tribal cards to bolster the number of non natives to claim Miwok lineage in an effort to throw out the true blood line and real Miwok people. Mr. Everone also started several web sites under the Miwok tribal name in an effort to legitimize his bogus band of Miwoks. Albert Seeno was clearly identified as the moneyman behind the criminal act of fraud and identity theft as well.
It is ironic the tribal chief Silvia Burley asked for assistance from politicians who where receiving lucrative donations from the Seeno empire including but not limited to Barbara Boxer, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harry Reid. This raises the scepter of suspicion since absolutely no help came from these politicians in spite of the fact a crime was being perpetrated against the tribe. Guess Barbara and her chums did not want to bite the hand that feeds them.
The plot thickens since the California BIA as well as other authorities not only did nothing, they assisted the Seeno’s in perpetrating this crime. The California BIA shuttered the tribes funding forcing this beleaguered band of natives to fend for them selves regardless of the fact they were a federally recognized tribe. Tiger, a tribal elder, joked that this is the only federally recognized tribe that is operated solely on unemployment insurance. Granted, it was dark humor at its best but from Tigers vantage point cynicism replaced faith in the political system long ago. Their last bastion of tribal land went into foreclosure since the state and federal governments failed in their obligation to uphold the law. The state and feds played ball with the Seeno scam by making it all but impossible for this tribe to exist by shuttering their funding since 2007. Calculated and divisive is the only way to describe how politicians and unscrupulous corporate interests have financially crippled this humble tribe of people just to build another casino. Are state and federal agencies going to stand behind the tribe now that death threats have been lodged against these people or is the government going to send in their own hit men to whack the tribe? I wager it would be the second choice eh. I can almost hear Gary Owen being played as government troops prepare to wipe out the Miwoks. Is this our contemporary Manifest Destiny and wave of the future?
Director of marketing for the Pepper MILL Casino Corporation in Reno NV., Bill Hughes said the Seeno situation in California had nothing to do with the casinos in Nevada. It would appear this raid has only opened a Pandora’s Box of intrigue. Now there will be focus on politicians who’ve allowed the Seeno’s to do as they wished in Northern California as well as wage war on a sovereign tribal nation to steal their identity for a casino. Though Hughes said there was no connection in the case and the Pepper MILL Casino Corp it would behoove Renee Shaffer of the Nevada Gaming Commission to look deeper into Seeno and Chadd Everone’s exploits since they were involved on both sides of the Nevada border with regard to the California Valley Miwok Tribe and casino gambling. Or does Harry Reid have the Seeno’s back on this one? No doubt Harry Reid’s involvement or lack there of will be called into question. Dirty Harry was a scoundrel in his own right anyway. Oh well, to bad so sad Harry.
Barbara Boxer has the most dirt on her hands since I’ve read complaints sent to her office clearly identifying the Seeno’s and others in the scam to steal their tribal lineage. She was given names, dates and addresses as well as an in depth report yet Barbie turned a deaf ear to their complaints. Predictably the California Governator, Arnie, did less than nothing to stop the siege of the California Valley Miwok Nation and allowed state agencies to join in the shooting match. It is a very sad state of affairs when legality is set aside in favor of corporate contributors and this is the case of the California Valley Miwok Nation. Maybe if the Miwok greased Barbara’s palm with $20,000 or so she would have stood by existing laws that govern sovereign tribal nations. Fraud and bunko are still crimes in most states Barbie or is California above such nuisance laws? Pandering for money at the expense of the electorate has become an art form it would appear. Maybe the school system should pencil in this dark side of American politics in civics class. “Buying Politicians 101”
With an affluent businessman armed with loads of cash and an army of morally bankrupt politicians the Miwok people face insurmountable odds in surviving the onslaught that has besieged this impoverished nation. Where the hell is Secretary Ken “Howdy Doody” Salazar since he was notified by the tribe about the crime being committed in his jurisdiction and on his watch? After all he is the Department of the Interior mast head. Is Ken in the deep pockets of the Seeno Empire as well? How come all these hot shot natives appointed to the Obama administration are not raising a stink? Aren’t they supposed be on the side of justice and Indigenous issues or are they simply political eye candy? The real issue in the California Valley Miwok case is tribal sovereignty because if corrupt politicians succeed in stealing tribal lineage from one nation they will make a dangerous precedent. Other tribes will be caught in the crosshairs of corporate greed and ultimately loose their birth right to satisfy the needs of corporate interests. Silly me, this is happening throughout the Central/South America and Africa since the needs of corporations overshadows the concerns of Indigenous populations already.
On the bright side, the plight of the California Valley Miwok Nation is no longer a secret Californian act of corruption for now the whole world is becoming aware of this crime. The world is coming to know who all the players are in this identity theft scam including some very prominent politicians. There is no question more dirty politicians will be rousted from the fetid depths of deceptive practices as this investigation delves deeper into the matrix of the Miwok scam. Like David and Goliath, the California Valley Miwok Tribe is standing in defiance against a giant casino/construction mogul with deep pockets and powerful political friends. And from what I gathered from conversations with the tribe, the California Valley Miwok Tribe will fight to the last breath to save their nation. In all reality these human beings have no other options since they are fighting for their very existence.
For more current information on the California Valley Miwok scandal contact the California Valley Miwok Tribe;
s.burley@californiavalleymiwoktribe-nsn.gov
———————————————————————
* http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_14426353
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi- bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/19/BA721C3VBK.DTL
** http://www.poormagazine.org/index.cfm?L1=news&story=2427&pg=1
Your Devil’s Advocate
Buffalohair