Enterprise Rancheria Tribal Chief Harvey Angle said Tuesday that his tribe will cooperate with a federal grand jury investigation and welcomes a Yuba County ballot measure on a proposed casino.

The tribe, based in Oroville, wants to build a casino and hotel with a convention center in south Yuba County and is waiting for the federal government to put 40 acres of land off Forty Mile Road into a land trust.
The tribe is under investigation by a federal grand jury for undisclosed reasons.

"The tribal council and leadership of the Enterprise Tribe are fully cooperating with the federal inquiry of tribal records consistent with federal Indian law," Angle said in a press release Tuesday.

"We are certain that a full and fair review will demonstrate that all federal funds received by the tribe have been used properly and appropriately and are full accounted for," he said.

The statements came just days after the tribal council disenrolled 70 members. One disenrolled member, Robert Edwards, claims the action was in retribution for an attempted recall on some of the tribal leaders.

 
The tribe would not comment on Edwards' claim when contacted by phone Tuesday but Angle's press release said "false accusations against the tribe are the result of internal tribal politics and will be proven to be without merit in a full and fair investigation."

In another press release, Angle said the tribe welcomes a ballot measure for Yuba County residents to decide whether they want a casino.

"We welcome the opportunity for the people of Yuba County to assess our proposal at the ballot in November," Angle said.

"The tribe is fully focused on economic development and job creation for both tribal members and Yuba County and deeply appreciates community support for our proposal to develop a destination resort hotel and gaming facility."

He said he is confident that voters will approve the ballot measure.

A vote on the casino won't occur until next November at the earliest because there is not enough time to get the measure on the March ballot, the Yuba County Board of Supervisors said last week.

The proposed $90 million facility would be on Forty Mile Road off Highway 65. The hotel would be seven stories tall and have a convention center large enough to draw entertainment acts that would make the place a destination resort, according to the tribe.

"All along, Enterprise Rancheria has assured the people of Yuba County that our project will benefit the entire community," Angle said in his statement.

Under an agreement with the Board of Supervisors, the tribe would pay $70 million to the county and will offer a hiring preference for local residents.

The tribe held several town hall meetings in the county to talk about the casino.

"Feedback from your town hall meetings last year was very supportive of the project," Angle said. "We believe Yuba County voters will agree it is a win-win situation for all of us."