Ex-developer Accused Of Illegal Payments

Friday, September 21st 2007, 11:14 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- A former casino developer is expected to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge of making illegal payments to at least three officials of the Seminole Nation.

Ivy Ong of California is accused of making the payments so they would let him run tribal casinos.

The charges say he paid more than $44,000 to one official, nearly $7,200 to get a second official's home out of foreclosure and more than $8,600 to renovate the home of a third official.

Prosecutors did not identify the tribal officials and they apparently have not been charged.

The Seminole Nation cut its ties with Ong after he came under federal investigation.