Then-Rep. Buzz Thomas honored his casino partner with House Resolution

In November 2001, Michigan State Representative "Buzz" Thomas (Samuel Thomas III) authored and introduced House Resolution 0259 honoring the life of Lawrence P. Doss.

Among many other accomplishments, Doss was one of the organizers of Atwater Entertainment Associates LLC, the syndicated entity that bankrolled approvals of gambling in Detroit and started MotorCity Casino. Doss was recognized as Manager/Treasurer of Atwater and was a signator to the Detroit Entertainment LLC Operating Agreement as representative of Atwater. That agreement tied together members of Atwater with a partnership that included Marian Ilitch, Tom Celani and Michael Malik, and Las Vegas-based Circus Circus (Mandalay Resort Group) to form the entity that does business as Detroit's MotorCity Casino.

A list of those who were "investors" indicates that then-Representative Thomas (he's now a State Senator) and Doss were partners in Atwater Entertainment Associates LLC. Mr. Doss's interests in Atwater were transferred to Judith Y. Doss in October 2001.

In 2005, Marian Ilitch initiated a buy-out of her Atwater partners -- presumably including Samual "Buzz" Thomas III and Judith Doss -- which some valued at more than $100 million.

Using borrowed money, Ilitch made overnight millionaires out of her Atwater partners

4.12.05

Atwater investors due MotorCity sale windfall

By R.J. King / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Original investors in Atwater Entertainment Associates LLC, a local group with a stake in MotorCity Casino, are poised to net sizable profits this week as Marian Ilitch positions herself to become sole owner of the gaming operation.

A $25,000 investment in Atwater Entertainment in 1994 has increased 22 times and is now worth $550,000, said Herb Strather, shareholder and founding member of the investment group.

Strather and more than 100 investors who own 266 units of Atwater Entertainment had previously received $150,000 per unit in profits, and will soon collect an additional $400,000 per unit once the sale is completed, he said.

At that rate, Atwater Entertainment, which owns 11.5 percent of the casino, would be selling its interest to Ilitch for around $106 million.

Atwater Entertainment Associates, LLC: List of Investors

NOTE: Atwater "investors" including Michigan State Senator Samuel "Buzz" Thomas received large windfalls from Marian Ilitch during 2005. What votes might Sen. Thomas have taken part in during 2005 that benefited Marian Ilitch or her family's affiliates including Ilitch Holdings, Inc., Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, MotorCity Casino, Blue Line FoodService Distributing, etc.? Did Sen. Thomas abstain from voting in such matters? OR what votes might Sen. Thomas have made that negatively impacted any competitors of those Ilitch affiliates?

Where there other Atwater "investors" benefiting from Marian Ilitch's buyout in 2005 who were in a position to help her family's businesses as a result?

Michigan Senator listed as "investor" in gambling casino syndication fund

It appears that Michigan State Senator Buzz Thomas (aka Samuel Thomas III) was apparently an investor in Atwater Entertainment Associates LLC (AEA), one of the founding interests – along with Marian Ilitch’s partners and Las Vegas-based Mandalay Resort Group (Circus Circus) – in Detroit’s MotorCity Casino.

Detroiters Herb Strather and Nellie Varner syndicated interests in AEA starting in 1995 in order to raise the capital they needed to push for the legalization of commercial gaming in Michigan (Proposal E – 1996) and lay the foundations for Detroit’s MotorCity Casino. Neither Strather or Varner were able to qualify for Michigan gaming licenses. Thomas, who was born in 1969 (1.28.69), would have been between 25 and 30 years old at the time he originally "invested" in the Atwater venture (AEA).

Thomas was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1996 and served from 1997 – 2002. He’s represented Michigan’s 4th State Senate District (Detroit proper) since 2003.

In 2003, he introduced Senate Bill 0904 intended to limit the State Lottery’s use of casino-like games. Rather, in 2004, Detroit’s commercial casino interests promoted and passed a statewide ballot measure, Proposal 1, which requires a statewide vote in order to establish any new state lottery games utilizing "table games" or "player operated mechanical or electronic devices." According to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (mcfn.org), Marian Ilitch, representing MotorCity Casino, contributed $200.000 to support passage of Proposal 1 – at the time she was reportedly that casino’s largest individual shareholder.

Ilitch reportedly bought out the interests of AEA syndicators in 2005 when she acquired majority control in MotorCity Casino from Mandalay Resort Group/MGM Mirage. (MichiganDaily.com: Ilitch Outbids Partners for MotorCity Casino)

According to a Web site set up for AEA investors to enable class-action lawsuits, Atwater Entertainment Associates LLC included entities known as Bay Ventures and BV Atwater. Strather’s wife Vivian Carpenter has served as Resident Agent for all three affiliates.

According to Crain’s Detroit, three-quarters of Atwater “investors” have also “invested” in AtMashpee LLC, another entity Strather syndicated to raise capitol need to bankroll a Cape Cod casino resort plan with the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe of Massachusetts. Strather has also organized AtMashpee Notes LLC.

That tribe’s former chairman, Glenn Marshall, was under federal investigation and has agreed to plea guilty to federal campaign contribution violations and charges of fraud. Various Atwater/AtMashpee investors were identified blindly in the indicment documents. AtMashpee enabled Marshall's wrong doing by dumping $4 million into a hidden fund.

It's not clear whether Sen. Thomas was one of those Atwater investors who also helped to syndicate AtMashpee LLC.

According to a bio presented on Thomas' Web site, he has been:

Called “A Rising Star” by both the Detroit News and Hotline, one of Michigan’s five “Key Technology Leaders” by the Detroit Free Press, an “Under-40 Political ‘Buzz’ Saw” by the Michigan Front Page, recognized as One Of Four Up-And-Coming Leaders by Savoy, a national magazine spotlighting young, dynamic African-Americans, and chosen “Most Dedicated Detroiter” and “Best Local Politician” by Real Detroit Magazine, State Senator Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit) is known not only as a political force but also as a dynamic legislative leader.

You may want to review these related posts:

• Using borrowed money, Ilitch made overnight millionaires out of her Atwater partners
• Heirs of Chicago-based American Invsco founder helped bankroll casino ... are they at it again?
• Politico paid to gather signatures on petitions may have also invested in AtMashpee LLC
• Did principals at Goddard Clausen political firm help syndicate AtMashpee LLC too?
• Who's Who guide to complaint filed against former Mashpee tribe chairman Glenn Marshall
• Detroiters Strather, Deitch provided $4 million fund that enabled wrongdoing by ex-tribal chairman
• A one-time partner of Marian Ilitch & Mike Malik, had previous bribery conviction; bankrolled current plan for Cape Cod casino

Mlive.com: Michigan state senator from Detroit injures knee in fight outside bar
Wikipedia: “Buzz” Thomas (Samuel “Buzz” Thomas III)
Official Web Site: Senator Buzz Thomas