Former General Manager of Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino Convicted of Defrauding Casino
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 21, 2011 |
FRESNO, CA—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Jeff Livingston, 51, of Las Vegas, was convicted today of six counts of mail fraud and three counts of theft by an officer or employee of an Indian gaming establishment, stemming from his embezzlement and theft of money and property from the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino. The guilty verdict was returned on all counts by a federal jury in Fresno after a five-day trial before United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill.
The evidence at trial showed that from October 2006 through October 2007, Livingston, Chukchansi’s general manger, executed a scheme to defraud Chukchansi by making a series of personal purchases using his business credit card and other Chukchansi funds. By accounting for such purchases as business purchases, Livingston caused the casino to pay for the items and defrauded the casino of its money and property. The personal purchases included a golf package to Hawaii, down payments on personal vehicles, a diamond necklace, and autographed sports and music memorabilia, including an autographed Master’s jacket. Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is owned and operated by the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, a federally recognized Indian tribe in Madera County.
According to United States Attorney Benjamin Wagner, “The United States will vigorously prosecute those who seek to defraud legitimate gaming establishments operated by federally recognized Indian tribes in California.”
This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian Garriques and Kirk Sherriff prosecuted the case.
Livingston is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2011. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.