Bear River Casino general manager Jim Gannarelli’s temporary gaming license was suspended on Dec. 2 by the Bear River Gaming Commission

The three-member commission, which issued the summary suspension, is comprised of Fortuna Mayor Odell Shelton, Brenda Bowie and Bob Laffranchi, all of whom were appointed by the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria’s Tribal Council, owners of the Bear River Casino.

The Bear River Tribal Gaming Agency said the reasons for Gannarelli’s suspended license are confidential. “It’s premature for me to comment on the suspension because its not final and it could be reinstated,” said Bear River Tribal Gaming Agency Executive Director Michael Acosta.

Acosta is also acting as an attorney and the presenting officer who will deliver the case in front of the Tribal Council and the Gaming Commission.

“Gannarelli has a right to appeal within 30 days to the Gaming Commission and the Bear River Tribe,” Shelton, the chairman of the Bear River Gaming Commission, said.

According to a press release issued by Acosta recently on behalf of the Bear River Tribal Gaming Agency, the temporary suspension of Gannarelli’s gaming license followed his application for a permanent license, which was likewise denied.

Gannarelli’s employment contract is an entirely separate matter that has to do with Bear River Casino’s board of directors rather than the gaming agency, Acosta said, but “if he doesn’t have a gaming license, he cannot act as a manager in the gaming capacity.”

Gannarelli, who was employed with Bear River Casino before the grand opening in August, has more than 24 years of experience in the gaming industry, 19 of which involve work with Native American tribes.

When Gannarelli was first employed with Bear River Casino, he faced charges of an alleged breach of contract from his former employer the Mazatzai Casino, owned by the Tonto Apache Tribe in Payson, Ariz.

As reported in a previous article by The Eureka Reporter, one of the alleged claims against Gannarelli was that he began work with Bear River Casino while still under contract with Matatzai Casino.

In July, Leonard Brown, chairman of the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, defended the allegations brought against Gannarelli by the Tonto Apache Tribe, in a statement which read:

“Bear River has confidence in Mr. Gannarelli’s gaming expertise, management skills and personal integrity. Mr. Gannarelli is a valuable human resource and we have welcomed him to Humboldt County to assist us in creating over 200 quality jobs at the Bear River Casino.”

According to Shelton, Tonto Apache Tribe’s case against Gannarelli has still not reached a definitive conclusion.

Since the summary suspension was given to Gannarelli Dec. 2, he has not returned to work and Bear River Casino has already instituted an interim general manager, John McGinnis, who previously served as Gannarelli’s assistant.

Attempts to leave messages for Gannarelli’s administrative assistant were denied and Gannarelli’s attorney did not return calls by deadline.