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Texas Tribe Casino Payments Resume8 July 2002EL PASO, Texas – As reported by the Associated Press: "More than a half-year after sizable payments to Tigua Indians were suspended over litigation on Speaking Rock Casino, members of the West Texas tribe have been notified that money would resume flowing this month. "Announcement of a money distribution to the tribe follows last October's decision by the Tigua tribal council to suspend checks of $15,000 each from the prior year's profits at the casino. Members then received a letter that said checks would not go out because of ongoing legal action on the casino. "A federal judge had cleared the way for the Tiguas to offer certain types of gambling — but short of the multimillion-dollar casino operation that existed at Speaking Rock Casino before the federal government shut it down in February. "The latest letter did not indicate was how much the payments would be and why the tribe has now decided to pay out money to members. "…The annual payments were suspended after a September 2001 ruling in which U.S. District Judge Garnett Thomas Eisele found the casino illegal under state law and ordered it shut down. "A letter sent to tribal members late last month notified the 1,200-member tribe that payments would be handed out July 19. "…Annual distribution of Speaking Rock Casino profits began in 1998, when an $8,000 payment went to every tribal member. The payment increased in 1999 and 2000 to $15,000 a member…" |