Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe issued with second federal subpoena

In Massachusetts and Cedric Cromwell (pictured) has reportedly narrowly escaped being removed from his post as Chairman for the embattled Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe after the 2,600-strong community was hit with a second federal subpoena.

According to a Sunday report from The Herald News newspaper, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council decided by a five-to-three vote with one abstention not to remove the 55-year-old from his leadership position and also resolved to fully comply with the latest records request from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Increased inspection:

The newspaper reported that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was presented with a first federal subpoena about two months ago that had requested a range of financial records presumably tied to its continuing attempt to build the envisioned $1 billion First Light Resort and Casino. The second request as part of a secretive grand jury investigation was purportedly issued on August 10 and is asking for all documentation and records relating to the tribe’s 2013 and 2017 council elections including a full list of registered voters.

Election enquiry:

The Herald News reported that the second subpoena, which was signed by Massachusetts federal prosecutor Christine Wichers, moreover seeks an electronic inventory of the people who actually voted in the two aforementioned elections as well as the contests’ final certified results. The action is purportedly furthermore asking for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s annual census records for the ten years from the beginning of 2011 in addition to copies of any complaints it had received relating to the two races or their associated candidates and campaigns.

Partnership pursuit:

Finally, the newspaper reported that the second federal subpoena has additionally asked the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to provide prosecutors with its own policies and rules concerning campaign contributions and expenditures in addition to copies of any contracts it inked with local architecture firm Robinson Green Beretta Corporation from 2011.

The Herald News reported that Providence-headquartered Robinson Green Beretta Corporation had earlier agreed to design and build the proposed First Light Resort and Casino after completing the 2012 construction of the tribe’s community and government center. The newspaper detailed that the firm had also helped to represent the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in casino-related negotiations with Asian gambling giant Genting Malaysia Berhad, which was to run the planned facility near the small city of Taunton.

Revoked recall:

Cromwell was reportedly set to face a recall election last autumn following the emergence of malfeasance allegations tied to the around $500 million the tribe is said to owe to Genting Malaysia Berhad. However, this ballot was purportedly cancelled a mere three days before it was to take place to leave the controversial Chairman in office.