Couple Charged With Conspiracy, Embezzlement Of Casino Funds

Friday, August 24th 2007, 5:22 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A federal grand jury has charged a Calumet couple with conspiracy and embezzlement of more than $122,000 from the Lucky Star Casinos, U.S. Attorney John Richter said Friday.

Robert Tabor, 62, and his wife, Colleen Tabor, 49, were named in a sealed indictment returned by the federal grand jury on Aug. 21, Richter said. The indictment was unsealed when the Tabors were arraigned before a U.S. magistrate Friday afternoon.

Robert Tabor, an Arapaho tribal representative and chairman of the Cheyenne-Arapaho business committee, is accused of conspiring with his wife to embezzle $114,376 from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma from Lucky Star Casino gaming revenue, according to the indictment.

It alleges that 38 separate counts of embezzlement against Robert Tabor occurred between September 2002 and October 2003. It also alleges he issued and cashed checks drawn on the tribe's bank accounts without authorization to his wife, for vehicles and for various travel expenses.

The indictment also charges Colleen Tabor with conspiracy plus eight separate counts of illegally cashing checks or receiving wire transfers totaling $7,646 from various tribal bank accounts.

If convicted, the Tabors each face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.