E C Investments Inc

Two consultants and a gaming business president pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles on Monday to federal charges that they set up 140 illegal slot machines that took in $10 million on the Morongo Indian Reservation. The men and E. C. Investments Inc. are accused of installing illegal video Keno, poker and "Pot-o-Gold" machines in Casino Morongo, a gaming business on the Morongo Reservation near Banning.

An appeals court Tuesday gave a legal go-ahead to federal prosecutions targeting the widespread use of slot machines in California's Indian casinos. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated criminal charges against the non-Indian managers of the sprawling gambling hall on the Morongo reservation outside Palm Springs--charges dismissed by a lower court in a 1994 decision that derailed an announced crackdown on the thousands of video slot machines openly used in tribal casinos around the state.

An appeals court Tuesday gave a legal go-ahead to federal prosecutions targeting the widespread use of slot machines in California's Indian casinos. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated criminal charges against the non-Indian managers of the sprawling gambling hall on the Morongo reservation outside Palm Springs--charges dismissed by a lower court in a 1994 decision that derailed an announced crackdown on the thousands of video slot machines openly used in tribal casinos around the state.

A Los Angeles judge has dealt a setback to an attempted crackdown by federal prosecutors on the electronic slot machines used in California's Indian gambling halls. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Gadbois Jr.

The managers of the casino on the Morongo Indian Reservation near Palm Springs were indicted Wednesday for allegedly operating illegal slot machines--and skimming millions of dollars from the Morongo tribe in the process.

A Los Angeles judge has dealt a setback to an attempted crackdown by federal prosecutors on the electronic slot machines used in California's Indian gambling halls. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Gadbois Jr.

When video gambling machines started popping up in California's Indian gambling halls in 1991, San Diego County sheriff's officials thought they could halt use of the "electronic slots" by raiding three reservations and seizing 288 of the devices. It was a bad bet. Three years later, while authorities continue to insist that the machines are illegal in California, at least 16 of the state's tribes have them.

Two consultants and a gaming business president pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles on Monday to federal charges that they set up 140 illegal slot machines that took in $10 million on the Morongo Indian Reservation. The men and E. C. Investments Inc. are accused of installing illegal video Keno, poker and "Pot-o-Gold" machines in Casino Morongo, a gaming business on the Morongo Reservation near Banning.

The managers of the casino on the Morongo Indian Reservation near Palm Springs were indicted Wednesday for allegedly operating illegal slot machines--and skimming millions of dollars from the Morongo tribe in the process.