D.C. Lobbyists were paid more than $2.33 million in the quest for federal recognition of New York’s Shinnecock Indian Nation.
Somehow the poor impoverished Shinnecock Indian Nation paid $1.25 million to lobbying firms in its quest for Recognition that would lay the groundwork to develop casinos on Long Island. Amended lobbying disclosures report that Gateway Casino Resorts pays the lobbying bills and controls the lobbying contracts for the Shinnecock Indian Nation.
Additionally, Gateway Casino Resorts, the Detroit-based investment group behind the tribe’s casino plans, paid more than $1.08 million to D.C. lobbyists during the same period of time.
Washington D.C. Lobbying Payments
Partner (Registered Lobbying Client) | Lobbying Payments (through 2011) |
$1,085,000 | |
$1,250,000 | |
Total | $2,335,000 |
Source: OpenSecrets.org
Originally organized as Empire Ventures, L.L.C. in 2003, and then changed to Empire Associates, L.L.C., when amended Articles of Organizations were filed in 2004; the investors group fronted by Detroiters Michael Malik and Marian Ilitch, began reporting its name as Gateway Casino Resorts, L.L.C., with its 2005 annual corporate filing. The first lobbying reports were filed in Washington, D.C. that same year.
Ilitch owns among other things, Detroit’s MotorCity Casino. Malik had been one of the “founders” of MotorCity Casino but failed to win a Michigan gambling license in 1999 and was forced to drop out of the Atwater Associates syndication (MotorCity's investment group) before the casino could open its doors.
Another Atwater partner was Herb Strather. Like Malik, controversy seems to follow Strather. After both being cut-out of MotorCity Casino before the gambling hall could open its doors, each pursued similar casino development schemes elsewhere.
Malik has pursued casino development plans for Long Island and Strather pursued similar plans for Cape Cod. They used financing and influence models similar to those that had worked for them earlier in Detroit. In fact, three quarters of those parties investing in Strather's Cape Cod syndicate had also been investors in one of the earlier entities that morphed into MotorCity Casino.
Strather’s schemes, unlike Malik’s, were scandalously exposed in 2007. Strather had been fronting for silent partners Len Wolman, Sol Kerzner, international casino moguls. The chairman of the Mashpee Tribe, partners with Strather’s investors group, was arrested for fraud and various schemes they had concocted to fund lobbying and political campaign contributions -- schemes that had earlier/elsewhere gone unnoticed or undetected.
Also see:
- Scandal Continues to Plague Political and Lobbying Activities of Detroiters Bankrolling Shinnecock Casino Plans
- Shinnecock Casino Backers have dropped $117,500 on top-ranking NY Politicians
- Congressman Bishop Under Fire For Accepting Michael Malik's Contribution
- Questions Surrounding $15K Gov. Cuomo Accepted From Detroit Casino Syndicator
- Ilitch affiliate retains former U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato's lobbying firm to push New York Casino plans for Shinnecock
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