Ex-Seminole official pleads guilty in gaming case

Friday, December 12, 2008  

A former council member for the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma pleaded guilty in a case related to the tribe's former gaming partner.

Ricky Van Deer, 48, was indicted on bribery and obstruction of justice charges. Prosecutors allege he accepted more than $44,000 from Ivy Kwok Ong, the tribe's former gaming partner who pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion and bribery charges.

Van Deer was set to go to trial, with Ong as the first witness, but he reached a deal to plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice. He will face between 10-16 months in prison, The Journal Record reported.

The Seminole Nation was forced to shut down its gaming facilities and pay a hefty fine to the National Indian Gaming Commission for its dealings with Ong.

Get the Story:
Former Seminole official pleads guilty to obstruction (The Journal Record 12/12)