SAN JACINTO — The chairman of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of accepting more than $250,000 in bribes from tribal vendors and concealing income from the Internal Revenue Service.

Robert Salgado, 67, entered his plea Monday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles to charges contained in a 36-count indictment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Salgado is accused of accepting bribes to pay his personal bills in exchange for giving contracts to outside vendors to do work at the Soboba reservation and casino in San Jacinto.

Also charged in the indictment is Abbas Shilleh, 46, of Diamond Bar, who pleaded not guilty to offering bribes in exchange for service as a valet parking vendor.

No further court dates have been set.

The indictment alleges that Salgado conspired to solicit and accept bribes from four vendors in exchange for them obtaining contracts with the tribe or being allowed to keep existing contracts.

Court papers allege the four vendors paid bribes to Salgado in the form of cash, payments to his creditors and checks payable to a company that Salgado established.

The indictment also alleges that the four vendors who paid bribes were involved in real estate purchases made by the tribe, had construction projects at the tribe's casino and on the reservation and provided services at the casino.

Salgado was indicted on one count of conspiracy and 29 counts of bribery outlining payments totaling more than $250,000.

The indictment also includes six counts of filing false tax returns for the years 2001 through 2006, with each count alleging that his true income was in excess of the figures reported to the IRS.