{"id":155973,"date":"2020-11-20T04:13:43","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T12:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=155973"},"modified":"2020-11-20T10:09:48","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T18:09:48","slug":"massachusetts-casino-architect-pleads-not-guilty-to-bribery-allegations-for-5m-tribal-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/massachusetts-casino-architect-pleads-not-guilty-to-bribery-allegations-for-5m-tribal-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts\u00a0Casino Architect Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Allegations for $5M Tribal Contract\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Rhode Island architect has pleaded not guilty to charges he allegedly bribed the Massachusetts Mashpee Wampanoag tribal chairman. He is alleged to have given tens of thousands of dollars to capture a close to $5 million contract for a planned casino in Taunton.<\/p>\n

\"If
David DeQuattro, a Rhode Island architect, has pleaded not guilty to charges he allegedly bribed a Massachusetts Mashpee Wampanoag tribal chairman with tens of thousands of dollars to capture a close to $5 million contract. It relates to a planned casino in Taunton. (Image: Robin Green Beretta)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Providence Journal<\/em> newspaper reported that David DeQuattro, 54, of Warwick, entered the plea last week during his arraignment via videoconference before Boston federal court Magistrate Marianne B. Bowler. DeQuattro was released on a $25,000 secured bond.<\/p>\n

DeQuattro is facing two federal charges of accepting or paying bribes to an Indian tribal government or agent, and one count of conspiring to commit bribery.<\/p>\n

\n

The case stems from an FBI investigation of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and its troubled $1 billion casino project. The tribe\u2019s ex-chairman, Cedric Cromwell<\/a>, was arrested on multiple charges in connection with the alleged bribery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

He also pleaded not guilty. Cromwell is also free after posting a $25,000 secured bond.<\/p>\n

The Mashpee Wampanoag\u2019s Gaming Authority, led by Cromwell, had contracted with Robin Green Beretta Corp., where DeQuattro is managing principal, for the casino project, the Providence Journal<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n

DeQuattro Allegedly Provided Checks, Hotel Stay<\/h2>\n

Between July 26, 2014 and May 18, 2017, DeQuattro provided Cromwell with \u201ca stream of payments and in-kind benefits valued at $57,549. In exchange, the architecture firm was paid $4,966,287 under its contract with the Gaming Authority,\u201d according to a statement from Massachusetts US Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.<\/p>\n

Payments to Cromwell allegedly included $44,000 in personal checks. They were written by DeQuattro to CM International Consulting LLC, an entity owned by a friend of Cromwell\u2019s, Lelling claims.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cromwell also allegedly directed his friend to deposit DeQuattro\u2019s checks and used the money to buy treasurer\u2019s checks payable to either Cromwell or a shell entity that Cromwell incorporated called \u201cOne Nation Development,\u201d Lelling said.<\/p>\n

DeQuattro also allegedly wrote one $10,000 personal check directly to One Nation Development.<\/p>\n

\n

Following a federal investigation, it was revealed that Cromwell spent all of the money on personal expenses, including payments to his \u201cmistress,\u201d Lelling claims.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The unnamed president of the Rhode Island architecture firm — who has not been charged — allegedly signed company checks reimbursing DeQuattro for his payments to Cromwell, Lelling adds.<\/p>\n

The reimbursements were \u201cfalsely\u201d characterized as \u201cpayroll expenses to conceal what they really were,\u201d Lelling alleges.<\/p>\n

The in-kind payments included Cromwell\u2019s weekend stay at a Boston hotel. Cromwell texted that he wanted DeQuattro to \u201cget me a nice hotel room at the Four Seasons or a suite at the Seaport Hotel\u201d for his birthday weekend. He added, \u201cI am going to have a special guest with me,\u201d <\/strong>Lelling said in a statement.<\/p>\n

DeQuattro Faces Decades in Prison if Convicted<\/h2>\n

If convicted on a single charge of paying a bribe to an Indian tribal government agent, DeQuattro could face up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Since there are two counts, he could have twice the penalties and prison sentence if convicted. More prison time is possible for the conspiracy to charge if he were convicted on that count.<\/p>\n

DeQuattro did not provide comment on the allegations.<\/p>\n

The planned Taunton casino has faced numerous legal and regulatory controversies and hurdles. Malaysian gaming giant Genting Group provided much of the initial funding for the project.<\/p>\n

The tribe has looked to Congress<\/a> for help in proceeding with the stalled casino project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Rhode Island architect has pleaded not guilty to charges he allegedly bribed the Massachusetts Mashpee Wampanoag tribal chairman. He is alleged to have given tens of thousands of dollars to capture a close to $5 million contract for a planned casino in Taunton. The Providence Journal newspaper reported that David DeQuattro, 54, of Warwick, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":155974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMassachusetts\u00a0Casino Architect Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Allegations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An architect pleaded not guilty to bribery allegations invovling the Mashpee Wampanoag tribal chair. 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