Federal authorities are investigating how leaders of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma are spending casino profits, according to news reports.

Members of the tribe's business committee are given access to an "emergency assistance" fund. The money is then doled out to tribal members on "E.A. Day," which, despite its name, seems to occur just about every day.

The FBI and the National Indian Gaming Commission have questioned the use of the funds. One tribal leader reportedly admitting spending $57 million in 3 1/2 years on used cars, rental cars and other expenses.

The FBI and the NIGC have interviewed a number of current and former tribal leaders. They want to know how casino profits, reported to be in the range of $7 million to $10 million a year, are being handled. NIGC Chairman Phil Hogen has threatened to shut down the two casinos.

Tribal leaders are seeking to open a casino in Colorado.

Get the Story:
Misspending claims draw FBI (The Daily Oklahoman 5/8)
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Money from casinos pulls disappearing act (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 5/8)
Tribes hope to take a gamble (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 5/8)
'Every day is E.A. day' for some tribal members (The Daily Oklahoman 5/9)
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Accusations fly over emergency aid (The Daily Oklahoman 5/9)
Political feuding causes chaos in Concho (The Daily Oklahoman 5/10)
Political feuding causes chaos in Concho (The Daily Oklahoman 5/10)
Questions surround use of tribe's emergency funds (The Daily Oklahoman 5/10)