FORMER LA POSTA GAMING COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZLING FUNDS FROM TRIBE

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By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2013 (San Diego) – Troy Teague, former Executive Director of the La Posta Gaming Commission, pled guilty today to embezzling $57,000 from the la Posta Band of Mission Indians.  The plea was made before Magistrate Judge Jan Adler, U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced.

The La Posta Casino (photo, left) shut down in October 2012.  A letter written by Tribal Council Chairwoman Gwendolyn Parada to employees stated that the casino, located off I-8, would close “due to its current financial situation,” 10 News reported. The smallest of San Diego County’s casinos, at its peak La Posta employed approximately 100 people.

Teague, 38, served as Executive Director of the Commission from 2006 to 2011. He was responsible for creating the budget and maintaining records, issuing checks and monitoring payments on Commission credit cards. 

“Despite the fact that Teague recognized that he could not use the commission credit card or bank account for personal expenses, he used both the credit card and checking account for personal business,” a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s office states. Those expenses included membership dues at a gun club, vacation expenses, Home Depot charges, car audio/video components, legal fees, a grain mil, restaurant expenses, car rentals, and entertainment including a comedy club bill. 

Teague admitted that from June 2009 to April 2011, he embezzled a total of $57,000 from La Posta, concealing the fact that tribal credit card bills that he paid included his personal expenses.

“Today’s conviction proves that Mr. Teague exploited and violated his position of trust,” said Daphne Hearn, Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego FBI Field Office, “and unjustly enriched himself at the expense of the tribe,”

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to doing its part to enhance security in Indian Country,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Burkhardt, community outreach director and tribal liaison. “The diligent prosecution of federal crimes committed on reservations is an important complement to State and Tribal law enforcement efforts.”  

Teague, a resident of El Cajon, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with a three-year supervised release.


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