Who's Who guide to complaint filed against former Mashpee tribe chairman Glenn Marshall

Who's Who guide to the five count complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney in U.S. District Court and alleging criminal wrongdoing by former Mashpee Wampanoag tribal chairman Glenn A. Marshall including allegations of federal campaign finance violations, wire transfer fraud, tax fraud, embezzling $380,000 to pay personal expenses and fraudulently accepting payments from the Social Security Administration.

Investor A - Herb Strather; Detroit-based casino syndicator; founding member of AtMashpee LLC (see docs); has acknowledged to reporters that he is "Investor A." Herbert J. Strather is Resident Agent of AtMashpee Notes LLC, an enterprise established one year ago (12.08.07) when Strather's corporate counsel Jason Q. Wilson filed articles of organization for the LLC.

Laurence B. Deitch, an attorney at Bodman LLP, is Resident Agent and manager of AtMashpee LLC. Deitch and Strather, who lead the efforts to legalize commercial gambling in Detroit, were original partners in Atwater Entertainment Associates LLC which eventually morphed into Detroit's MotorCity Casino (a d/b/a for Detroit Entertainment LLC). Both Strather and Deitch opted to sell their interests in MotorCity Casino before it opened its doors -- Strather because he reportedly feared the Michigan Gaming Control Board might find him ineligible for a license and Deitch, a University of Michigan Regent, because reportedly he anticipated a future constantly questionning conflicts of interest.

Investor B - Floyd Gallegos; resident of Battle Creek, MI; an MIT-educated Yaqui Indian who helps tribes obtain grants and other assistance; an acquaintance of Strather's; reportedly investor in AtMashpee LLC.

Political Action Committee A - RICH PAC (Pombo's leadership PAC)

Member of Congress A - Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

Member of Congress B - former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA); then chair, House Natural Resources Committee

Member of Congress C - Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA)

Political Consultant A - Stephen Graham

Ilitch partner fronted more than $50,000 in travel, etc. for key Members of Congress

During the 2006 election cycle Michael Malik and his affiliates (Barwest LLC and MJM Manistee, Inc.) fronted more than $52,668 in travel, catering, gifts & entertainment for Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Reps. Don Young (R-AK), Richard Pombo (R-CA) and Bart Stupack (D-MI). And that's what got reported!

More than 78 percent of those dollars went to pay for the expenses of Young and Pombo.

During the '04 & '06 election cycles, members of the Ilitch family and Malik also contributed more than $510,00 to these elected officials and other federal political committees. They were among top donors to Stabenow, Pombo and Young.

Each of these Members of Congress sponsored key bills granting approvals for Malik (and his partner Marian Ilitch) to build off-reservation Indian casinos.

Date (linked: OpenSecrets.org) – Recipient – Donor – Amount – Description
2005.01.25 – Don Young - Barwest LLC - $5,817 – Air travel expense

2005.07.11 – RICH PAC - Malik, Michael Sr. - $5,000 – Inkind

2005.07.11 - America’s Leadership PAC (Stabenow) - Malik, Michael - $4,000 - Reimbursement - Event Tickets

2005.07.12 – America’s Leadership PAC (Stabenow) - MJM Manistee, Inc. - $1,400 -Catering

2005.07.12 - America’s Leadership PAC (Stabenow) - Malik, Michael - $5,000 - Event Tickets & Site Rental

2005.07.15 - America’s Leadership PAC (Stabenow) - Malik, Michael - $500 - Reimbursement - Gifts for Donors

2005.09.14 – RICH PAC - Malik, Michael Sr. - $16,064 - PAC fundraiser-event rental/transportation

2005.09.14 – RICH PAC - MJM Manistee, Inc. - $10,469 PAC fundraiser-catering/hotel 09/14/05

2005.10.07 – Don Young - Malik, Michael - $3,978 – Air travel

2006.10.16 – Bart Stupak - MJM Manistee Inc. - $440 – Tailgate Event

A Case of Abramoff-Lite: Pombo was doing favors for his Motor City Casino friends

a case of Abramoff-Lite: Rep. Richard Pombo was doing favors for his friends the Detroit casino syndicators on the same track he was advancing Northern Mariana Islands matters.

Rep. Richard Pombo was doing favors for his friends the Detroit casino syndicators; in turn they were funneling tens of thousands of dollars to Pombo’s committees, causes and friends. Although Pombo is no longer in office, these students of Abramoff and their Indian partners are still at play inside the D.C. Beltway.

While the Ilitch Family and Michael Malik, along with their lawyers and lobbyists, were contributing to Rep. Richard Pombo’s political committees and favorite causes, Pombo took advantage of his role as Chairman of the House Resources Committee and attempted in both the 108^th and 109^th Congresses to quietly slip through bills that would give favor and advantage to the Shinnecock Indian Nation, a tribe whose legal and public relations pursuits are being bankrolled by Ilitch & Malik.

Both bills had minimal exposure and then late in their respective sessions of Congress were reported in the House and placed on the Union Calendar for future vote of the whole House: H.R. 5134 (on Nov. 19, 2004); H.R. 512 (on Sept. 28, 2006). That’s as far as they got.

Both bills would have demanded the Secretary of Interior immediately review the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s petition for Federal Recognition and give a determination. If the Secretary failed to meet the Pombo deadline or didn’t rule favorably toward Pombo’s friends, both bills gave the Shinnecock the ability to appeal the in-action or negative decision in Federal court – a path that the Shinnecock have previously taken, which had outcomes favorable to the tribe.

The Shinnecock seek federal recognition as a tribe in order to build a Las-Vegas style casino and resort in the Hampton Bays area of Long Island, NY. Ilitch & Malik, under the veil of Gateway Casino Resorts (or Gateway Funding Associates), have been bankrolling legal, lobbying and public relations efforts to support the tribe in exchange for up to 30% of the future casino profits and development rights.

Ilitch & Malik want the matter expedited because each day that goes by without approvals that could lead to a groundbreaking or ribbon cutting for an anticipated Shinnecock casino in the Hampton Bays area of Long Island costs the pair of “investors” more money.

An Associated Press story written by Erica Werner in July 2005 raised questions about the timing of Ilitch/Malik hosted fundraising events to benefit Pombo in Detroit during the MLB 2005 All-Star Game and a hearing scheduled two days later in Washington D.C. that could possibly have had an impact on the Shinnecock pursuits. There are no noted press reports suggestig there was any awareness of Pombos attempts to assist his friends with H.R. 5134 or H.R. 512.

Gratuities to Pombo from the Detroit casino syndicators include:

• $16,000 from Mike & Marian Ilitch, and Michael Malik to RICH PAC (earning them #9 and #5 spots respectively on RICH PAC’s “Top Ten” individual donors list for ’04 and ’06; Jack Abramoff was #10);

• Total of more than $40,000+ for RICH PAC including contributions from various Ilitch lobbying firms (from $11,500 bundled on May 18, 2004 – $15,500 bundled on December 7, 2005);

• $26,600 to the San Joaquin County GOP Committee (Pombo’s home party organization) on October 18, 2004 from Detroit-based Barwest (Ilitch/Malik entity doing business in Barstow, Calif.);

• A $5,000 per head fundraiser at the 2005 MLB All-Star Game in Detroit (total proceeds unknown as there are no related contributions noted in Pombo’s campaign committee or RICH PAC disclosures despite aides to Pombo indicating he was the beneficiary of the event);

• Various travel arrangements;

• $50,000 to the RNC recorded the day after (7/13/05)the All-Star Game fundraiser ($25,000 each from Michae l J. Malik and Christopher Ilitch);

• $220,000 lobbying contract signed by Barbara Bonfiglio on behalf of Williams & Jensen to represent Malik’s MJM Enterprises and Development during the period Bonfiglio was also RICH PAC treasurer.

H.R. 5134 - Congressional Actions

• 9/23/2004: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

• 9/29/2004: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

• 11/19/2004 7:51pm: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-788.

• 11/19/2004 7:51pm: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 482.

H.R. 512 - Congressional Actions

• 2/2/2005: Referred to the House Committee on Resources.

• 2/10/2005: Committee Hearings Held. (1st published hearing of the session; Shinnecock only testimony outside government; 14 of 46 Members noted as present)

• 6/21/2006: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

• 6/21/2006: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

• 9/28/2006 4:28pm: Reported by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 109-694.

• 9/28/2006 4:33pm: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 419

Pombo introduced H.R. 5134 in the House the same day he introduced H.R. 5135, “To provide for a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives to represent the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.” Six days later both bills were put before a vote of the Resource Committee, without either having been the subject of a previous hearing. Pombo introduced amendments to the bill he had introduced less than a week earlier in the form of a substitute bill. The committee voted and ordered the matters be reported to the full House. Pombo’s troubles in the Abramoff scandal have been tied to matters of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Although Rep. Pombo was clearly attempting to railroad approval of H.R. 5134 (and H.R. 5135); H.R. 5134 failed to win approval from the whole House in the 108^th Congress.

Pombo was not deterred. He reintroduced the bill as H.R. 512 one month into the 109^th Congress and his committee promptly “heard” the matter a week later.

The controversy surrounding the Ilitch/Malik hosted All-Star Game fundraising benefit for Pombo broke during Summer 2005 and the activities of Pombo and associates like his PAC Treasurer and former lobbyist Barbara Bonfiglio were increasingly being questioned.

Pombo severed his ties with Bonfiglio in March 2006 approximately six months after disclosure reports indicate her ties with Ilitch/Malik (for which she had been paid $220,000) were severed.

It had been 16-17 months since any formal action on H.R. 512.

Shortly after the June 2006 primary election, the Resources Committee held a routine mark-up session on what the Daily Digest indicated were “miscellaneous matters.” On June 21, 2006 the House Resources Committee reviewed more than two dozen bills including H.R. 512. The committee ordered by voice vote that reports be printed and advanced on certain of the various bills reviewed. H.R. 512 was reported to the Whole House three months later.

On September 28, at a time when the press and most others were focused on the many political campaign stories underway in the Fall elections, the report was presented and slipped into the hopper for a future vote of the whole House. All or part of the report prepared for the full House was part of the report he had ordered printed in 2004 because it appears that on the GPO printed version of Report 109-694, page six, third to the last paragraph of the section "COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII" the report's author failed to replace "H.R. 5134" with "H.R. 512."

Pombo faced defeat at the polls on election day 2006 and there appears to have been no further action on H.R. 512.

Marian Ilitch and her family along with Michael J. Malik, Sr. have not been deterred by the loss of their political steward Richard Pombo. They still aggressively pursue plans to expand their Michigan casino empire through ventures with:

• the Shinnecock Indian Nation, seeking federal recognition and the opportunity to develop a casino complex in the posh Hamptons resort area of Long Island in New York;

• the Bay Mills Indian Community, using questionable land claims as leverage to get approvals to develop a third tribal casino off reservation in Port Huron, Mich.; and

• the Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon Rancheria Bands of Indians in California, two tribes Ilitch & company have adopted for the purposes of relocating planned tribal casinos across state to the Mohave Desert community of Barstow, where Ilitch owns more than 100 acres alongside I-15, half-way between the southern California basin and Las Vegas.

politics

originally posted 5.10.07

Mashpee circumstances with Pombo sound awfully similar to Long Island tribe's

from a previous post at THINKPROGRESS.org

"Abramoff: The House That Jack Built"

Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)
House Resources Chairman

POMBO PASSED A BILL HELPING ABRAMOFF CLIENT, RECEIVED MONEY IN RETURN: In 2004, Pombo ushered a bill through his committee helping the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians tribe — an Abramoff client — gain federal recognition and special benefits, which was approved in Sept. 2004. “Members of the tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians, have donated at least $20,000 to Pombo’s political group since he was named Committee on Resources Chairman on Jan. 8, 2003. Tribe members gave an additional $12,000 to his re-election campaign earlier this year. The first Mashpee donation - $12,000 from six members of the tribe to Pombo’s leadership political action committee, Rich PAC - came Sept. 29, 2003. That same day, Abramoff gave $5,000 to the fund. Abramoff also gave $2,000 to Pombo’s re-election campaign days after he was named resources committee chairman.” [Lodi News Sentinel, 12/5/05]

If you think those circumstances sound awfully familiar ... check these out -- same game; slightly different players:

• A Case of Abramoff-Lite: Pombo was doing favors for his Motor City Casino friends;
• Team Ilitch directed $40,000 to RICH Political Action Committee
• Congressman's donors linked to tribal dispute before committee
• Pombo no All-Star in watchdog group's eyes

It warrants mentioning, Mrs. Marian Ilitch the owner of MotorCity Casino and one of her original founding partners Michael J. Malik, Sr. have been bankrolling the efforts to bring about Federal Recognition of the Shinnecock Indians in New York and a subsquent Indian casino resort for the tribe on Long Island; and another former MotorCity Casino founder Herb Strather is behind similar plans for the Mashpee with the objective of opening a Mashpee Indian Casino on Cape Cod. Malik and Strather were forced to sell their original ownership interests when it became apparent that the Michigan Gaming Control Board would disqualify them from licensing.

Mercury Public Affairs promotes a Casino in The Hamptons but worked to block the Warm Springs Tribe in Oregon

Mercury Public Affairs, the same group hired to help Michael Malik, Marian Ilitch and The Shinnecock Indian Nation to get approvals in New York to build a casino on Long Island in the posh resort area known as The Hamptons; worked to kill plans by the Warm Springs Indian Tribe to build Oregon's first off-reservation casino at Cascade Locks in the Columbia River Gorge.

It was through those circumstances that the Secretary of Interior made clear that tribes would need to have the newly acquired lands taken into trust prior to pursuing a compact with the respective state for off-reservation gaming.

The Malik/Ililtch casino syndication Barwest LLC has been bucking that direction by trying to get the California Legislature to ratify gaming compacts with the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Indian Tribe before either has completed the fee to trust land transfer process for parcels in Barstow, Califonria. Barstow is hundreds of miles from either Tribe's existing reservation and outside their acknowledged ancestral homelands.

Partners in Mercury Public Affairs joined Malik in making substantial contributions to the political committee of former Rep. Richard Pombo; although neither Mercury Public Affairs nor its partners were registered as lobbyists for the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Washington D.C.

Doolittle legal defense fund?

posted on 04.20.07 by Hank Shaw | Recordnet Blogs:

Doolittle legal defense fund?
So it appears Rep. John Doolittle has set up a legal defense fund. Can't wait to see who donates to it. Wonder if Richard Pombo will chip in? He's got several thousand dollars left in his RICH PAC account. And remember that the former Tracy congressman chipped in for former Majority Leader Tom DeLay's fund...My crystal ball says that if Doolittle's having a tough time getting enough campaign contributions to pay off his 'debt' to his wife for, ahem, fundraising, then getting enough cash to pay his soon-to-be-astronomical legal bills might be a shade tougher...

It will certainly be interesting to see who chips in ... When Pombo and the others gave to DeLay the scene was much different. This is another chapter and those who went out on a limb then, aren't likely going to do it in these times; number of them aren't around or find themselves needing support today. But Hank does bring up an interesting topic, what will Pombo do with the RICH PAC money? And what about all of those donors he cultivated?

Detroit-based Barwest LLC fined $6,500 for violating CA Political Reform Act

Barwest LLC, an affiliate controlled by Detroiters Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr., was fined $6,500 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) in late 2006.

Barwest LLC made a curious last minute $26,600 contribution to Rep. Richard Pombo's San Joaquin County GOP Committee in late October 2004. Under California’s Political Reform Act, Barwest LLC was required to file a “late contribution report” within 24 hours of making the 11th hour contribution. Further by making a campaign contribution of $10,000 or more in the 2004 calendar year, Barwest qualified as a "major donor" committee. Barwest LLC failed to file a semi-annual “Major Donor” report as of January 31, 2005 and failed again to file a semi-annual report on July 31, 2005.

Only after being confronted by FPPC officials did Michael J. Malik, Sr. file a major donor report on August 31, 2005 – seven months late.

The FPPC charged Barwest LLC with two counts of violating California’s Political Reform Act and on October 24, 2006 (nearly two years later) Michael Malik on behalf of Barwest LLC was fined $6,500 for failing to report the $26,600 contribution.

Major Donor Reporting Violations

In the Matter of Barwest, LLC, FPPC No. 05/548. Staff: Chief of Enforcement Bill Williams and Political Reform Consultant Wayne Imberi. Respondent Barwest, LLC qualified as a major donor committee in the second six months of 2004. Respondent failed to file to timely disclose a late contribution in a late contribution report, in violation of section 84203, subdivision (a) of the Government Code (1 count); and failed to timely file a semi-annual campaign statement, in violation of section 84200, subdivision (b) of the Government Code (1 count). $6,500 fine.

The FPPC indicates, “Respondent Barwest LLC is a developer based in Detroit, Michigan, which is involved in the financing of an Indian gaming casino in Barstow, California.”

Barwest LLC had not previously made any contributions in California nor has it made any substantial contributions since. This was a unique and uniquely large amount by the Barwest principals’ standards.

Curious is that Congressman Richard Pombo hails from San Joaquin County. The GOP Committee there reports receiving three checks for $26,600 on October 25, 2004: Barwest LLC, Pombo’s RICH PAC (a committee that Barwest principals funded as well); and Jeff Denham for Senate (a committee Barwest principal Michael J. Malik, Sr. funded subsequently).

At the time Barwest made the contribution, Rep. Richard Pombo was chair of the House of Representatives’ Resources Committee which oversees Indian gaming matters. RICH PAC’s treasurer Barbara Bonfiglio had signed Malik (MJM Enterprises & Development) to a lobbying contract with her firm (Williams & Jensen). Barwest principals and their various affiliates and partners had various matters passing through the House resources committee.

Jeff Denham is currently vice chair of the California Senate’s Governmental Organization Committee and was on the committee in 2004 when Barwest made the contribution to the San Joaquin County GOP Committee. That committee traditionally takes up matters of Indian gaming compacts for review in the state Senate.

You may also want to review these posts:

• A Case of Abramoff-Lite: Pombo was doing favors for his Motor City Casino friends
• Team Ilitch has track record of poor compliance with lobbying and political disclosures
• Where there's smoke, there's fire: Attorney attempts to clean up FPPC mess created...
• Political cash for those who author SB 157 - the Barstow Casinos bill
• More Lobbying Irregularities related to Barstow Casino raisingmquestion...

Family that built fortune on Detroit Sports and Little Caesars Pizza directed $900k to these political committees while expanding gambling ventures

Ilitch Family/Malik Political Contributions

Ranked by cumulative giving 2002-2006

From records available at the Federal Election Commission and various state officials

Cumulative Amount	Political Committee
$200,000.00	1. LET VOTERS DECIDE YES ON 1 512104-BAL (Restrict Expansion of Gambling)
$75,000.00	2. 2004 JOINT STATE VICTORY COMMITTEE - REPUBLICAN
$75,000.00	3. CANDICE MILLER FOR CONGRESS / CANDICE PAC
$54,400.00	4. MICHIGAN SENATE 2006 - DEMOCRAT (Stabenow)
$50,000.00	5. REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE – July 13, 2005 (Day Between Pombo All Star Game Fundraiser & House Resources Committee Hearing)
$40,000.00	6. BARSTOW CITIZENS FOR REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - 2006
$36,200.00	7. STABENOW FOR US SENATE
$26,700.00	8. DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - 2006 (Stabenow)
$26,600.00	9. SAN JOAQUIN/CA REPUBLICAN VICTORY FUND - 2004 (Pombo/Violated CA Political Reform Laws & fined $6,500)
$25,000.00	10. NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
$22,000.00	11. FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID / SEARCHLIGHT LEADERSHIP FUND
$16,800.00	12. MARK KENNEDY 06 - REPUBLICAN (WI)
$16,000.00	13. ALASKANS FOR DON YOUNG INC.
$16,000.00	14. KNOLLENBERG FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
$16,000.00	15. RICHARD POMBO FOR CONGRESS / RICH PAC
$14,000.00	16. BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC - REPUBLICAN
$13,000.00	17. NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PAC (Rep. RANGEL)
$11,200.00	18. MCCLINTOCK FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (CA)
$10,100.00	19. FRIENDS OF HILLARY (Clinton)
$10,000.00	20. CITIZENS TO SAVE CALIFORNIA (Schwarzenegger)
$10,000.00	21. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PAC
$9,500.00	22. LEWIS FOR CONGRESS / FUTURE LEADERS PAC (CA)
$9,000.00	23. DANIEL K INOUYE FOR US SENATE (HI)
$9,000.00	24. STUPAK FOR CONGRESS
$5,400.00	25. JENNIFER M GRANHOLM FOR GOVERNOR
$5,000.00	26. AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP PAC (DEM)
$5,000.00	27. PERATA, TAXPAYERS FOR (CA)
$4,200.00	28. BOUCHARD FOR US SENATE
$4,000.00	29. FRIENDS OF PAT WIGGINS (CA)
$3,400.00	30. DICK DEVOS FOR GOVERNOR 512426-GUB
$3,400.00	31. GEORGE PERLES FOR MSU TRUSTEE 512571-CAN
$3,300.00	32. ALBERTO TORRICO FOR ASSEMBLY 2006 (CA)
$3,300.00	33. CALIFORNIAN TAXPAYERS FOR HORTON
$3,300.00	34. CARL MARLINGA FOR CONGRESS - DEMOCRAT
$3,300.00	35. FRIENDS OF FABIAN NUNEZ 2006 (CA)
$3,300.00	37. LELAND YEE FOR SENATE (CA)
$3,000.00	38. CARL MARLINGA FOR CONGRESS
$3,000.00	39. CHOCOLA FOR CONGRESS INC - REPUBLICAN
$3,000.00	40. GOVERNOR ENGLER LEADERSHIP FUND
$2,676.00	41. ARKANSAS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 2004 FCRC
$2,000.00	42. FRIENDS OF KEVIN DELEON (CA)
$2,000.00	43. JEFF DENHAM FOR SENATE 2006 (CA)
$2,000.00	44. KERRY, JOHN
$2,000.00	45. MIKE COX FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 510518-CAN
$1,875.00	46. MAZE FOR ASSEMBLY (CA)
$1,500.00	47. AGHAZARIAN 2006 (CA)
$1,338.00	48. KIRKWOOD, MYRAH LYNN
$1,000.00	49. BOB BEAUPREZ FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	50. BROWN-WAITE FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	51. COMMITTEE TO ELECT GARY ACKERMAN - DEMOCRAT
$1,000.00	52. COX 5200 CLUB 511499-IND
$1,000.00	53. DR. ED HERNANDEZ, O.D. DEMOCRAT FOR ASSEMBLY (CA)
$1,000.00	54. GINGREY FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	55. JIM GERLACH FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	56. KILPATRICK FOR UNITED STATES CONGRESS - DEMOCRAT
$1,000.00	57. MAX BURNS FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN (MT)
$1,000.00	58. MIKE ROGERS FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	59. PADILLA FOR SENATE (CA)
$1,000.00	60. PATTY BERG FOR ASSEMBLY (CA)
$1,000.00	61. PEARCE FOR CONGRESS - REPUBLICAN
$1,000.00	62. ROY ASBURN FOR SENATE (CA)
$500.00	63. COM TO REELCT JDG WILLIAM C WHITBECK 508592-CAN
$500.00	64. FRIENDS OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN - DEMOCRAT
$10,525.00	65. MISC
$888,314.00	TOTAL

* See links in sidebar for additional break down with specifics on donor, date and amount

Detroit casino syndicators made large investment in Pombo

The Ilitch Family and Michael Malik invested heavily in Richard Pombo while he was chairman of the House Resources Committee (oversight for Indian Affairs and Indian Gaming).

Included among their gratuities to Pombo:

• $16,000 from Mike & Marian Ilitch, and Michael Malik to RICH PAC (earning them #9 and #5 spots respectively on RICH PAC’s “Top Ten” individual donors list for ’04 and ’06; Jack Abramoff was #10);


• Total of more than $40,000+ for RICH PAC including contributions from various Ilitch lobbying firms (from $11,500 bundled on May 18, 2004 – $15,500 bundled on December 7, 2005);
  


• $26,600 to the San Joaquin County GOP Committee (Pombo’s home party organization) on October 18, 2004 from Detroit-based Barwest (Ilitch/Malik entity doing business in Barstow, Calif.);
  


• A $5,000 per head fundraiser at the 2005 MLB All-Star Game in Detroit (total proceeds unknown as there are no related contributions noted in Pombo’s campaign committee or RICH PAC disclosures despite aides to Pombo indicating he was the beneficiary of the event);
  


• Various travel arrangements including private air travel;
  


• $50,000 to the RNC recorded the day after (7/13/05)the All-Star Game fundraiser ($25,000 each from Michae l J. Malik and Christopher Ilitch);
  


• $220,000 lobbying contract signed by Barbara Bonfiglio on behalf of Williams & Jensen to represent Malik’s MJM Enterprises and Development during the period Bonfiglio was also RICH PAC treasurer.

Note: Under California's political reform laws, Barwest L.L.C. was to have reported the $26,600 contribution made 10/18/04 as a "major donor" in disclosure filings due January 31, 2005. No disclosures were filed. A second reporting period for major donor disclosures ended June 30, 2005. Again no disclosures were filed. Michael J. Malik, Sr. did not file disclosure documentation declaring Barwest L.L.C. a "major donor" until September, 5, 2005 -- nearly a year after making the curious contribution and almost nine months (and two reporting periods)after disclosures were required.

Richard Pombo's former patrons might shed light on his future

RICH Political Action Committee is Rep. Richard Pombo's "leadership committee." As described by Recordnet.com in March 9, 2006 story:

it is "a kind of extra campaign committee that many lawmakers maintain. Pombo calls his Rich PAC. The money raised for these accounts can be used for nearly any purpose other than to directly get the law-maker re-elected."

Generally reporters and others look at PAC contributions but using g data available from the Federal Election Commission and additional analysis available from PoliticalMoneyLine for Congressional Quarterly (2004 & 2006 ), The Center for Responsive Politics, this analysis looked at individual contributions to RICH Political Action Committee for the 2004 & 2006 election cycles, covering the period of time Rep. Pombo served as chairman of the House Resources Committee.

RICH Political Action Committee

Individual Contributions Cumulative '04 & '06

(couples combined)

Contributors	Total
1. Bridges, Lowell & Kimberly (WA)	$15,800
2. Barnett, John (WA)	$10,000
3. Weinberg, Joseph & Debra (MD)	$10,000
4. Barnett, David & Kristine (WA)	$9,000
5. Malik, Michael (MI)	$9,000
6. Dacey, Scott (VA)	$8,000
7. Furman II, Harold (DC)	$8,000
8. Mattoon, Jane (VA)	$7,000
9. Ilitch, Mike & Marian (MI)	$6,000
10. Abramoff, Jack (DC)	$5,000

The following sources were among those accessed during October 2006 in preparing this report: U.S. Federal Elections Commission; PoliticaMoneyLine by Congressional Quarterly; Center for Responsive Politics; CampaignMoney.com.

click for: RICH PAC's top 100 individual donors 2004 + 2006

You may also want to review these posts:

• Progressive 11th (C.D.-CA): Pombo in Talks to Become a Lobbyist?
• Hank Shaw @ Recordnet.com: Pombo Emerges
• David Roberts @ Gristmill: Pombo goes through the revolving door