For Immediate Release ~ July 21, 2006
Contact: Shawn Pensoneau ~ (202) 632-7003

NIGC ISSUES NOTICE OF VIOLATION ON SEVERAL TRIBES

Washington DC, July 21, 2006 — The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe in Lemoore, California on July 20, 2006 and several other Tribes on July 19, 2006.

The Santa Rosa Rancheria NOV relates to the Tribe’s failure to conduct background investigations, including federal criminal history checks, on key employees and primary management officials and failure to make eligibility determinations of suitability for employment in a gaming operation based on sufficient background investigations.  Additionally, the Rancheria failed to notify the NIGC in the proper timeframe when it licensed key employees and primary management officials, which is a requirement in NIGC regulations and the Tribe’s gaming ordinance.

On July 19, 2006, the NIGC also issued an NOV to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation for late audits in Fiscal Years 2003, 2004, 2005, the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians for no audit filed during Fiscal Year 2005 and Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation for late audits in Fiscal Year 2004, 2005.

“It is important to note that most Tribes submit proper documents in a timely fashion.  It is equally important to ensure that the industry is responsive to the regulations and know that non-compliance has consequences” NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen stated.

To view these NOV’s, please visit the NIGC website at www.nigc.gov         

The NIGC is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

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