And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: From: Pat Morris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.omaha.com/Omaha/OWH/StoryViewer/1,3153,250049,00.html November 12, 1999 $1.3 Million Unfrozen for Santees BY ROBERT DORR WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER The U.S. Attorney's Office on Friday gave up its hold on about $1.3 million in Santee Sioux Tribe funds that had been frozen in a long-running dispute over the tribe's casino. "We believe those funds of the tribe are legally exempt from garnishment," Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Boeshart said. Pending further court action, an additional $500,000 in Santee bank accounts will remain tied up by a court order. A lawyer for the tribe said that funds in Santee Sioux bank accounts that came from a federal or state government grant or contract are exempt from seizure. Whether the $500,000 ultimately winds up paying court fines still must be decided. U.S. District Judge William Cambridge will hear evidence on that issue at a hearing Dec. 10. The tribe contends that the $500,000 might be exempt from seizure and will seek more documentation to support its position, said Maurice Johnson, lead attorney for the tribe. U.S. Attorney Tom Monaghan has been trying to collect $432,000 to pay court fines assessed against the Santees for keeping their casino open in violation of court orders that it close. The fines have been accumulating at the rate of $6,000 a day. In June, Cambridge converted $432,000 in fines to a court judgment, meaning Monaghan has the authority of the court in his collection efforts. On Friday, Cambridge declared that another $750,000 in fines now have the status of a court judgment, making total fines of about $1.2 million. The tribe hasn't voluntarily paid any of that amount, and so far the government hasn't collected any. Meanwhile, the casino on the tribe's northeast Nebraska reservation remains open. The small casino with 71 slot machines on the Knox County reservation produces about $1 million a year in revenue before payroll and other expenses. Most of that revenue came from gamblers' losses. It includes a small amount from a casino restaurant. The tribe has hidden its casino proceeds since federal authorities seized $87,000 of those funds in 1996. The bank accounts that have been frozen are for the tribe's noncasino activities. Most of the funds for those accounts are wired from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and other government agencies. Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<> Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<>
