Seneca Nation casino work pays off for a lucky few

Monday, April 24, 2006  

A handful of members of the Seneca Nation in New York are winning contracts for millions of dollars in construction work at the tribe's casino using "front" companies, The Buffalo News reports.

The tribal members are taking advantage of a tribal preference law that is meant to help Seneca-owned businesses. But most of the actual work is being done by non-Indian construction firms, a situation decried by disgruntled Senecas who say friends and relatives of President Barry Snyder are winning all the contracts.

Charles Scanlan, 32, is the chief executive officer for two firms that did about $20 million in work at the casino. Executives at the two non-Indian companies that did the actual work say he had little day-to-day involvement in the jobs but helped them land the contracts.

Get the Story:
Seneca 'fronts' pay off for a few (The Buffalo News 4/23)