Enough Already WI! Launches New Television Ad
“Bad Bet: Lost Jobs & Corruption”
For Immediate Release:
September 16, 2013
Contact:
Brian J. Nemoir 262.646.2342
(Oconomowoc, WI)—With just 37 days left before the expiration of Gov. Walker’s selfimposed deadline for final consideration of the Menominee Tribe’s troubled Kenosha
off-reservation casino application rapidly approaching, Enough Already! WI has a new
television spot titled “Bad Bet: Lost Jobs & Corruption.”
The text of the ad is included as well as the factual background information:
Anncr:
A 2012 Wisconsin Policy Research Institute study showed a new
Kenosha casino would shift jobs and revenue out of Milwaukee.
Wisconsin Policy Research Institute concluded:
"In a saturated market, any new revenue to the sponsoring tribe is likely to
come from another Wisconsin tribe and from another Wisconsin
community. In that case, there would be no net gain to the people of the
state. There will simply be a transfer of jobs and money from one
community to another and from one tribe to another.”
Citizen 1:
Governor Walker...how is losing 3,000 jobs in Milwaukee going to
move Wisconsin forward?
Economic experts for the City and County of Milwaukee concluded in April
of 2012 that the proposed Kenosha casino would result in the loss of
3,000 total direct and indirect Milwaukee jobs.1
1
City of Milwaukee Comments on the Application from the Menominee Tribe to conduct off-reservation gaming in
Kenosha County” April 19, 2012
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Anncr:
Plus, the Kenosha Casino project has a history of corruption and
scandal.
$46 million Deal for Lobbyists--In April 2001, a $46 million contract in
connection to the Kenosha casino was publicly revealed. Nii-Jii, the group
of non-Indian developers of the Kenosha casino at the time, had signed a
deal to pay two Wisconsin lobbyists close to then Wisconsin Governor
Tommy Thompson $46 million if the casino deal had cleared all hurdles,
including approval by the governor. 2
Criminal Associations and Mob Ties--A Wisconsin Division of Gaming
investigation of Morgan Murphy Jr., the major shareholder of Nii-Jii,
concluded in September 2001 that Murphy had “criminal and questionable
associations.” Murphy was reported to be in business with two men who
had ties to organized crime. 3
Regulatory Fines--Argosy Gaming Co., a commercial gaming company
that lent money to the Kenosha casino project, was fined by gaming
regulators in 2001 and 2002 in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana after
investigators from these states separately concluded that several
investors in Kenosha casino deal had been associated with convicted
criminals and individuals of unsavory reputation. 4
Jack Abramoff--In July 2006, a US Senate investigation revealed that
Michael Chapman, a Menominee legislator from 2003-06, received
payments of $271,000 from convicted federal lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The
payments occurred during some of his tenure on the Menominee
Legislature and while the Menominee were pushing the proposed
Kenosha casino. 5
Federal Indictments--In March 2007, the Menominee’s long time
business partner and one-time Kenosha casino developer, Dennis Troha,
was charged with fraud and lying to the FBI in connection with activities
involving campaign contributions and a potential Indian casino in
Kenosha. 6 He later pleaded guilty to making illegal campaign contributions
relating to the Kenosha casino.
In September 2007 and February 2008, two of Troha’s close business
associates, John Erickson and Achille Infusino, were charged and pleaded
guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to provide illegal campaign
contributions to candidates that supported Indian gaming in Kenosha. 7
2
“Cozy deal sets up big casino payout” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 15, 2001
“A proposed casino off the reservation stirs up resistance” New York Times, December 31, 2000
4
“Failed Kenosha partner fined again” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 29, 2002
5
“Potawatomi call for inquiry into lobbyist ties; Report links former Menominee official to Abramoff” Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, June 27, 2006
6
“US indicts Wisconsin casino figure” Chicago Tribune, March 1, 2007
7
“2nd Troha associate pleads guilty” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 2, 2008
3
Local Official Indicted--Also in February 2008, Kenosha County
Executive Allan Kehl was charged by federal authorities with conspiracy to
accept illegal payments and bribes. He eventually resigned from office and
pleaded guilty to accepting $15,000 in bribes from Dennis Troha in
exchange for his work to help the Kenosha casino effort. On September
23, 2008 Kehl received a two year prison sentence. 8
Troha’s Troubled Past--The Wisconsin Division of Gaming conducted a
criminal background check on Dennis Troha when he applied for a
Wisconsin gaming license. According to news articles on the May 2007
report, “state gaming investigators raised serious questions about
Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha’s fitness to develop a casino, saying
his track record is littered with instances of wielding political influence,
doing business with people who had ties to organized crime and engaging
in sloppy business practices.” 9
Citizen 2:
One of their past developers had ties to the mob.
Fact: The Menominee partnered with Morgan Murphy to develop the
Kenosha casino in the late 90s through 2001 despite multiple readilyavailable press reports of, “Murphy’s two partners – John Serpico and
John Crededio – had links with the Chicago Outfit5.
The New York Times in December 2000 reported that Murphy “was in
business with a man whom the authorities link to Chicago organized
crime.”
Citizen 3:
And they already owe out-of-state interests, millions!
Dairyland Owners (Alabama)--The current owners of the former
Dairyland Dog Track site in Kenosha (the Ripp family of Birmingham,
Alabama) have agreed to sell the property to the Menominee Tribe if the
casino proposal is approved by federal and state authorities. It has been
reported that the Menominee would pay the Alabama owners $40.5 million
for the property. 10
Mohegan Tribe (Connecticut)--The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut was
involved in the proposed Kenosha casino project from 2003 – 2011 by
providing millions of dollars in financing and serving as the lead developer
of the project. In return, they would have managed the casino for its first
8
“Ex-official pleads guilty in Troha case” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 31, 2008
“Inquiry raises red flags on Troha” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 10, 2007
5
“Casino Developing Ex-Congressman Wants Benefit of the Doubt”, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 15, 2000
10
“Casino would be biggest in region” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 17, 2004
9
seven years of operation and taken tens of millions of dollars in profits
from the casino. 11
Even though they are no longer serving as managers or developers of the
project, the Mohegan are still in line to get millions should the proposed
Kenosha casino be built. According to the application submitted by the
Menominee to the BIA, the Menominee Kenosha Gaming Authority has
agreed to reimburse the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut the funds it
expended on the development of the Kenosha facility if the Tribe is able to
obtain construction financing of the project.12 The Mohegan Tribe invested
more than $12 million in the proposed Kenosha casino project.13
Citizen 1:
Governor Walker….jobs. We don’t want to lose them. Just say no to
the new casino.
To help inform the public on the ever-changing world of tribes seeking off-reservation casinos, Enough
Already! WI Inc., has been formed. Enough Already! finds its origins in the similarly-named 2005 group,
Enough. Enough was very active in the successful opposition to the proposed Kenosha, Beloit and
Shullsburg casinos, providing polling information, white papers, proposed legislation and an aggressive
ongoing public information campaign.
Enough Already! is an active coalition designed to inform the public of the potential off-reservation casino
threats, and provide the common-sense opponents tools for engagement. Early tools available for use by
interested parties include the recently launched blog: http://enoughalreadywi.com
##30##
11
“Mohegan Tribe to buy developer out of Wisconsin casino project” Associated Press, February 27, 2007
Update to the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Request to Take Land Into Trust, Part C – Updates of Other
Issues That Were Not Directly Raised in the October 17, 2011 Letter
13
“New player in casino project” Kenosha News, January 17, 2012.
12