United States Attorney John C. Richter Western District of Oklahoma April 9, 2008 CONTACT: Bob Troester                 405/553-8999

FORMER CHEYENNE-ARAPAHO CHAIRMAN SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY TO EMBEZZLE CASINO FUNDS

Ten Former Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal Officials and Associates Have Been Convicted or Charged

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - John C. Richter, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, announced that ROBERT TABOR, 62, of Calumet, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to serve 12 months in federal prison for conspiracy to embezzle more than $114,000 of net gaming revenues derived from the Lucky Star Casinos owned by the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe. Tabor was also ordered to pay $114,376.47 in restitution.

Tabor was an the Arapaho District A-2 elected representative and Chairman of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee when he conspired with his wife to embezzle tribal funds derived from net gaming revenues of the Lucky Star Casinos. Tabor was indicted in August, 2007, and pled guilty in October 2007.

"Nine tribal officials and associates have now been convicted as part of this on-going investigation into the corrupt use of tribal funds," said United States Attorney John C. Richter. "As illustrated by the Court's action today, this former Chairman of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee will be held accountable for the violation of his position of public trust by embezzling funds intended for the tribal good. We will continue to follow the facts wherever they lead us in this investigation."

Also sentenced this morning was Colleen Tabor, 49, of Calumet, Oklahoma, who pled guilty to embezzlement of more than $7,646.60 of Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal funds derived from the Lucky Star Casinos. She was wife of Robert Tabor. Colleen Tabor was sentenced to serve 4 years probation and pay $7,646.60 in restitution.

In addition to the Tabors, the following individuals have been convicted or charged in separate cases arising out of investigation of the financial activities of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee:

A. Convicted and Sentenced. The following individuals have been convicted and sentenced:

• James Wayne Pedro, Sr., 69, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzling gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos and also pled guilty to making a fraudulent statement to HUD. Pedro was an elected member of the Business Committee of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. In April of 2006 he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $193,235.77 in restitution to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and $6,277 to the Oklahoma Housing and Finance Agency. (Case No. CR-05-203)
• Peggy Bigpond, 53, of Concho, Oklahoma, pled guilty to unlawfully receiving and converting gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos to her own use. Bigpond worked as Pedro's secretary during a portion of his term of office on the Business Committee of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. In April of 2006 Bigpond was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $32,276.66 in restitution the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. (Case No. CR-05-204)
• Lea E. Schantz, 42, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pled guilty to receiving and converting gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos, knowing that the funds had been embezzled. Schantz also pled guilty to making a false statement to HUD. In April of 2006 Schantz was sentenced to serve 8 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $48,434 and $6,277 in restitution. (Case No. CR-05-205)
• Vera E. Franklin, 55, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzlement of $7,000 of Cheyenne-Arapaho net gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos. Franklin was an elected member of the Business Committee of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, serving as the Cheyenne District 2 representative. Franklin was sentenced in October 2007 to serve one month in federal prison and pay $7,000 in restitution. (Case No. CR-07-73)

B. Convicted and Awaiting Sentencing. The following individuals have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing:

• Louella Oldbear, 56, of Del City, Oklahoma was convicted by a jury in November 2007 of embezzling $17,000 and making a false statement to the FBI about the use of tribal money to purchase vehicles. Oldbear was Secretary to a Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee member. (Case No. CR-07-77)
• Renee Island, 43, of Calumet, Oklahoma, was convicted by a jury in January 2008 of conspiracy and embezzlement of Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal funds derived from the Lucky Star Casinos involving transfers totaling $15,900 of tribal funds between January and September 2003. Island was employed by the Cheyenne-Arapaho A-2 District as the secretary to Robert Tabor. (Case No. CR-07-49)
• Edward Dunn Whiteskunk, 51, of Hammond, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzling $5,919 of net gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos. Whiteskunk served as a member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee and was the elected representative of the Cheyenne District 4. (Case No. CR-08-35)
  C. Charged, Pending Trial, and Presumed Innocent Unless and Until Proven Guilty: In a completely separate case, the following individual has been charged and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty:
• Roy D. Bullcoming, 54, of Seiling, Oklahoma, was indicted on February 20, 2008, on 15 counts of embezzlement and theft of over $46,700 in net gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos. Bullcoming served as a member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee Representative representing Cheyenne District 1. If convicted, Bullcoming faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Reference is made to the indictment for further information. (Case No. CR-08-55).

All of these cases are the result of an on-going investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Robinson and Arvo Mikkanen.