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Soboba Indian chairman sentenced in bribery case
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Soboba Casino
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The former head of the Soboba Indian tribe has been sentenced to nearly three-and-a-half years in prison for accepting bribes.
Robert Salgado was convicted of taking nearly $900,000 in kickbacks from companies that did business with the Soboba tribe. They were involved in real estate and construction projects at the Soboba casino and reservation.
Federal authorities say Salgado lied about his income on tax returns in order to cover up the bribes and to avoid paying higher taxes on money he’d earned legitimately. The 68-year-old former Soboba tribal chairman oversaw the tribe’s lucrative casino, hotel and entertainment complex in San Jacinto, where he still lives.
Salgado was ousted as tribal leader after the charges came to light. The L.A. federal judge that gave Salgado the 41-month prison term also ordered him to pay more than $200,000 in back taxes. Salgado will surrender to federal authorities in June, and could serve his time at the federal lockup at Terminal Island.
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