Soboba Leader Accused Of Taking Bribes
RIVERSIDE – The chairman of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians surrendered to authorities today after being indicted on federal charges of accepting more than $250,000 in bribes from tribal vendors and concealing income from the Internal Revenue Service.
Robert Salgado, 67, was notified today that he was named in a 36-count indictment returned last week, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Salgado surrendered at U.S. District Court in Riverside, where he was expected to make an initial court appearance.
United States Attorney Spokesman Thom Mrozek says, “Salgado exercised substantial influence over the business dealings of the tribe, and he had the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the Soboba Band.” The indictment alleges that Salgado conspired to solicit and accept bribes from four vendors in exchange for them obtaining contracts with the tribe or being allowed to keep existing contracts.
Salgado’s attorney Robert Davis released this statement late Friday afternoon,”As the U.S. Attorney’s press release states, these are allegations, and Chairman Salgado has come to court today to clear them up.”
According to court papers, the four vendors paid bribes to Salgado in the form of cash, payments to his creditors and checks payable to a company that Salgado established. The indictment also alleges that the four vendors who paid bribes were involved in real estate purchases made by the tribe, had construction projects at the tribe’s casino and on the reservation and provided services at the casino.
Salgado was indicted on one count of conspiracy and 29 counts of bribery outlining payments totaling more than $250,000. The indictment also includes six counts of filing false tax returns for the years 2001 through 2006, with each count alleging that his true income was in excess of the figures reported to the IRS.
One of the vendors, Abbas Shilleh, the owner of California Parking Services Inc. — which provides valet parking at the Soboba Casino — was named in two of the bribery counts in the indictment. Shilleh, 46, of Diamond Bar, was expected to surrender to authorities Monday.
San Jacinto Mayor Dale Stubblefield says the allegations are going to hurt the communcation between the tribe and the City of San Jacinto.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, while the bribery counts each have a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The tax charges carry a maximum of three years.
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