Feds investigate Kiowa Tribe over missing casino money

On top of that are allegations from the manager of the Kiowa Grand Center that thousands of gaming profits - meant partly for education programs and economic development - were given to select tribal members for things such as car repairs and even a homecoming gown.

"It just looks like it was a free-for-all," casino manager Shan Gachot told The Oklahoman in a copyright story in Sunday's editions.

Tribal receipts show that most of the cash was given to tribal members as "emergency assistance" and that some receipts weren't even signed by tribal officials.

Former Kiowa Grand Center manager Tammy Reeves said she counted $40,000 in receipts for petty cash withdrawals from the casino during her yearlong stint as manager. Reeves, who is not American Indian, quit in October.

"There were people (tribal members) sleeping in their cars and they got no assistance," Reeves said. "But other tribal members could get money for prom dresses and tuxedos."

After Gachot replaced Reeves as manager, he said he walked into the casino's back office and found about $4,000 in cash in a bowl at the bottom of a locker. Another $6,000 was in a desk safe with the key sitting on top, he said.

"That's when I stopped letting cash go out the door," Gachot said.

The audit by accountant Eldridge Gordon Jr. showed the casino grossed $2.3 million for January through October 1999, though half the financial records were unaccounted for.

Gachot therefore estimates the casino grossed about $5 million for the year.

There were no audits in 1997 or 1998.

After Gachot met with Gordon about the audit, he turned over 15 boxes of records to the FBI office in Oklahoma City.

FBI spokesman Gary Johnson confirmed the bureau is working with the U.S. Interior Department's Office of Inspector General on the case.

The spotty records and cash-grabbing allegations are only the most recent in a series of troubles for the Kiowa Tribe, which was called a "high-risk" governing body three years ago by the Bureau of Indian Affairs due to spending abuse allegations.

The BIA even threatened to take control of the tribe's $1.24 million in federal contracts.

"There has been so much corruption for so long it has to end," said Brenda Myers, the tribe's vice chairwoman.

The Kiowa Grand Center closed Tuesday on orders from the National Indian Gaming Commission, which said the tribe is operating illegal machines. Those allegations have been leveled at the casino several times in the past few years, and Gachot said he plans to appeal the close order.

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