Indictments unsealed against insurance broker and Pechanga ex-financial exec who is accused of taking bribes

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Thursday, February 4^th, 2010.
Issue 05, Volume 14.

TEMECULA - Indictments were unsealed today against an insurance broker who allegedly overcharged the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians by $4 million for premiums and an ex-financial executive for the tribe, who is accused of taking bribes to look the other way.

James William Riley and Ryan Jay Robinson, the former chief financial officer of the Pechanga Resort & Casino and the Tribal Government Center, are both charged with grand theft.

Riley, 46, also faces commercial bribery and money laundering charges, and Robinson, 39, is charged with commercial bribery.

The men allegedly committed the crimes in 2006 and 2007, according to Ryan Hightower of the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

The tribe initiated the investigation that resulted in the indictments, according to Mark Macarro, Pechanga tribal chairman.

"We uncovered evidence of fraud and theft against the Advertisement

MJP Investments Pechanga Tribe and immediately launched a detailed internal investigation,'' Macarro said in a written statement.

The indictment alleges that after Hurricane Katrina, Riley overcharged the Pechanga Development Center by more than $4 million for insurance premiums.

Robinson allegedly accepted more than $100,000 in kickbacks from Riley in exchange for overlooking the theft.

Robinson's money was allegedly laundered through multiple accounts before being withdrawn in the form of cashier's checks.

"People may assume that as large amounts of money change hands illegally, the corporations involved and law enforcement might not notice.

They're wrong,'' said Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco. Macarro said the alleged crimes are upsetting to the tribe.

"At best, these individuals violated the tribe's trust and broke their fiduciary duty to our people,'' Macarro wrote. "At worst, they committed crimes against our tribe.''

11 comments for "Indictments unsealed against insurance broker and Pechanga ex-financial exec who is accused of taking bribes"

6:05 am Fri, Feb 5^th, 2010

1. Sammy says :

I'm sure if they dig a little more they might find this problem in every department. It's happend in the past even with tribal employees.

8:34 am Fri, Feb 5^th, 2010

2. factofthematter says :

Actually, if they dig a little more in THIS case they will find nothing. What they'll find is a good, truthful man (Riley) who loves to help people. Too bad when the truth comes out that Jim Riley won't get as much publicity for being innocent. There is so much behind the scenes that will eventually be told in trial and "the guilty" will definitely not be the defendants.

Comment Continued : The comment above was written from the same location.

4:09 pm Fri, Feb 5^th, 2010

3. theabsolutetruth says :

This is a total outrage!!! I know Jim Riley personally and he is the tpye of person that is honest and very, very giving. I know "the truth will set him free"!!!

Comment Continued : The comment above was written from the same location.

4:10 pm Fri, Feb 5^th, 2010

4. findthetruth says :

I have read several articles and heard several radio stations reporting that Pechanga has their hands in everything....including the DA's office. Several congressman are under investigation
for taking bribes and money from Pechanga. I find it odd that the DA prosecuting this case is the same DA that recieves funding from Pechanga. Pechanga is just looking to put the heat on someone else....

4:54 am Sat, Feb 6^th, 2010

5. us says :

Hey Findthe truth, Where are these articles and radio reports? Sure its not the voices in your head?

1:43 pm Sat, Feb 6^th, 2010

6. HEY US says :

HEY US!! Listen to this below. "Voices in your head"...wow, very witty. You should be a comedian.

http://www.kfi640.com/mediaplayer/?station=KFI-AM&action=ondemand&item=17153118&feed_name=JohnandKen.xml

7:13 pm Sat, Feb 6^th, 2010

7. Ugh! says :

Would the man who drives the silver Denali with the license plate Pechnga (driving on Pechanga) needs to stop talking on the phone while driving especially in a rainstorm!! Please obey the laws!

9:03 am Sun, Feb 7^th, 2010

8. Snoopy says :

Hey, Cowboy's & Indians, I like it!

11:02 am Tue, Feb 9^th, 2010

9. Concernd Native says :

Could this be bad karma? Pechanga has eligely disenrolled true people of Pechanga for Mark Macarros political career. Mark has covered up fraud for friends to enroll in Pechanga and allowed these people to disenroll tribal members to line their pockets. Mark has taken away health insurance from the young and elderly in need. Mark Macarro has violated the Indian civil rights act by these actions.

2:41 pm Sun, Feb 21^st, 2010

10. Tatanka says :

Vengence is mine says the Lord. I am waiting on God and His wrath for this little tightly bound sector of society. You make money from weak people and your greed has consumed you. God will protect Mr. Riley and Mr. Robinson...they are His children. Pechanga...I have been waiting for this for 8 years and I will enjoy watching you all fall. What you put out into this world you will reap. It will be far more atrocious than I could have ever imagined and I will pray for you in your slow demise.

7:49 am Tue, Mar 9^th, 2010

11. Concerned citizen says :

Pechanga is going down a slippery slope. It only takes one mistake to bring the card castle down. To those pechanga gangsters it's all fun and games now but not everyone can be bought and like I said it only takes one to blow the lid. Just like what all employees are trained to say "good luck sir"

Indictments unsealed against insurance broker and Pechanga ex-financial exec who is accused of taking bribes

11 comments for "Indictments unsealed against insurance broker and Pechanga ex-financial exec who is accused of taking bribes"

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