A member of the Meskwaki Nation of Iowa was sentenced to 10 years for stealing $480,000 from his tribe's casino.
Ryan Roberts, 42, blamed his gambling addiction on his theft from the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel. His attorney asked to forgo prison time and order rehabilitation and restitution.
But Judge Nancy Baumgartner sentenced Roberts to the maximum in prison time, along with $480,000 in restitution. The county attorney said the theft was the largest in tribal history.
"It's outrageous and disrespectful to the Meskwaki community. If the judge granted the deferred judgment, there would be no jail time and his record would be swept clean," Assistant Tama County Attorney Michael Marquess told The Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Get the Story:
Meskwaki tribe member sentenced to 10 years for stealing from casino
(The Cedar Rapids Gazette 2/13)
Stay Connected
Contact Us
indianz@indianz.com202 630 8439 (THEZ)
Search
Top Indian Gaming Stories
Trending in Gaming
1 Catawba Nation continues work on controversial casino in North Carolina
2 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes move forward with casino expansion
3 Poarch Band of Creek Indians said to be on Trump's radar
4 Hopi Tribe officially joins Indian gaming industry with approved compact
5 Seminole Tribe paid just $50M for casino Donald Trump built for $1.2B
2 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes move forward with casino expansion
3 Poarch Band of Creek Indians said to be on Trump's radar
4 Hopi Tribe officially joins Indian gaming industry with approved compact
5 Seminole Tribe paid just $50M for casino Donald Trump built for $1.2B
More Stories
• Turtle Talk: Supreme Court petition in gaming case• Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to open first casino
Indian Gaming Archive