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Gaming Commission: No regrets on Everett choice even with indictment of land owners for fraud
By adamg on Thu, 10/02/2014 - 2:32pm
The Globe reports both state and federal grand juries have indicted the three owners of the Everett land on which Steve Wynn recently won approval for his $1.6-billion casino - the two owners listed on records and the third hidden owner with a mob past.
The federal grand jury indicted the three for fraud, the state one for lying to the state gaming commission, the Globe says.
In a statement, the commission expresses its gratitude to law-enforcement officials for doing such a fine job rooting out alleged crime - and says it cooperated fully with their investigation:
Appropriate collaboration between the Commission as a regulatory body and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies is an integral part of accomplishing that mission. As it has done throughout this process, when there are concerns about potential criminal conduct, The Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) delivers investigatory materials to the relevant law enforcement authorities for action deemed appropriate and today's state indictments resulted. These federal and state indictments send a loud message that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will take every measure necessary to preserve the integrity of the gaming industry while also remaining focused on maximizing the benefits of job creation and increased revenue to the Commonwealth.
As with every gaming applicant, the IEB conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the suitability of Wynn MA LLC. The IEB recently updated the Commission on the continuing suitability of Wynn MA LLC and all those who would be involved in their operations. That report reaffirmed that Wynn MA LLC is suitable in all respects and that the sellers of the land would have no involvement with operations.
We would like to acknowledge the efforts of the IEB and State Police investigators for their execution of exhaustive and in-depth investigations aimed at ensuring the ethical implementation of expanded gaming. We would also like to thank the Offices of the US Attorney and Attorney General for their efforts in this matter.
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Comments
The mob?
I for one am shocked to learn that a land parcel set aside for gambling is owned by the mob.
The Godfather Part II - 2, Now Showing in Everett
Where is the great senator from Nevada, Pat Geary when you need him? Nice job Mass. Gaming Commission. You enabled members of the Legitimate Businessmen's Society to reap millions, gave a huge boost to a "touchy feely" mayor, and killed Suffolk Downs. In gambling that is called a Trifecta.
How can this stuff still go on in this day and age around here?
Hmm
I started typing something to the effect that we still have a chance to stop this by voting Yes on Question 3 in November, but I just got a vest-wrapped fish delivered to my desk.
Its curtains for you bub!
Better go along with gambling or the Sacred Cod gets it!
Don't worry I'm sure our AG
Don't worry I'm sure our AG will focus in like a laser on this corruption.
Of course they have no regrets
They get a paycheck whether they selected Wynn or if they selected Suffolk. So, the only thing that would compel them to do a good job is pride. As we've seen dozens of times with public employees who can't get fired, they clearly had little to none.
But I will begrudgingly respect them for having "no regrets." At least they admit it, much like the homeless man whose sign reads "why lie? I need a beer!"
Was there
Any reason why the 4th member of the ownership group, the one with ties to Crosby, wasn't indicted?
Dog and pony show
Well, except for the ponies. Give the license to an outfit who will not get the casino built, kill another source of gambling, at Suffolk, state Lottery proceeds are not diminished by other sources of gambling, the Gaming Commission members make a nice salary during the process and give the impression that they tried hard to enable a casino to be built in Boston.
The whole deal seems to me to protect the Lottery.
Something stinks worse than the barn area
Our (you and I) biases aside, the cloud hanging over the owners of the property in Everett should have been an issue for the Gaming Commission. If Caesars were so bad, how were these guys good partners?
I'm worried for Springfield, Plainridge, and the possibility of horses running again, but this could help Question 3 more than any ad, homily, or rally could.
This could just be Deval Patrick's legacy to the Commonwealth. Thanks.
Gaming and the ----*shudder* --- mob?
I, too, am shocked to learn that the casino people have mob connections. Who would've thought?
Nothing new about this info
Has been blogged about for several months on Blu Mass Group. FBI has been poking around for some time. Good question about why did they leave out owner who has ties to Steve Crosby? The Globe is the only entity that was out if the loop on this evolving story. Vote Yes on 3 against corruption
Nothing new about the machinations, no
Like when the mayor of Everett proposed eliminating the whole mob thing by having the city buy the land so it could then sell it to Wynn. Or when the chairman of the gaming commission had to recuse himself from Boston discussions because of his past business dealings with one of the landowners.
What is new, of course, is that now the three landowners are facing potential prison time.
The Globe wasn't out of the
The Globe wasn't out of the loop, they were hoping this issue would go away so they could continue to run pro-casino editorials (like Farragher's yesterday). The casino, at least the one near Boston, is turning out to be the mess critics feare, and it hasn't even opened yet to feast upon local gambling addicts. The Globe, and the governor, should be ashamed of changing their position to support the gaming legislation years ago. They should admit their mistake and support repeal of the legislation before more taxpayer resources are squandered on the other long-rumored pending indictments.
Question
How much do you want to bet that this news will be the straw that broke the camels back when the measure is re-voted on in November? Cuz this will sway this more negatively more so now than it did before.
Nice knowing ya Wynn...
I'll take your bet
Unfortunately, I think I'm going to win. There's just too much $ involved.
Some larger majority of people are OK with it as long as it's not near them.
And of course, there's Martha's quip about even if the repeal wins, she'll
find a way for Springfield to have one.