Post by Okwes on Apr 14, 2008 13:41:37 GMT -5
The new chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians wants to beef up security on his reservation near San Bernardino and quash the gang influence that has many tribal members living in fear.
James Ramos, 41, took office this week amid growing community concerns about organized crime's ties to some tribal members.
"My goal for the next two years of the tribe is really to focus on security policy ... really making sure that tribal members feel safe," said Ramos, who also has served as the tribal unity and cultural awareness director. "You can probably imagine the work that's cut out for me."
Ramos took out a restraining order against a fellow tribal member a few months ago, saying the man threatened him at a tribal meeting and Ramos feared for his safety. Ramos and at least one other tribal family have private security guards for protection.
In an interview Thursday, Ramos stressed that he can't implement these changes by himself; he'll need the support of a majority of the 70 or so voting members of the tribe's general council, and he said it will take time.
Former employees have complained previously that the tribal government has failed to fully tackle the problems. Among the issues are:
The reservation was the site of a Drug Enforcement Administration bust in 2006 that included raids on several homes. The massive investigation targeted the Mexican Mafia, methamphetamine trafficking and street crime. The home of the current tribal treasurer was one of those raided.
Two of the people arrested in that raid were tribal members also charged in a murder-for-hire scheme. They're scheduled to appear in court later this month along with a leading Mexican Mafia member and his brother.
Former tribal employees have said tribal members have been allowed to break laws inside the casino, including assaulting patrons and using drugs, without repercussions. The former employees also say tribal members have instigated brawls and carried weapons into the casino.
Enforcing Policies
Some of those problems can be tackled immediately by enforcing policies and making sure everyone follows casino rules, Ramos said.
"Anybody going in the gaming facility is (going to be) treated just like a customer ... that includes treating tribal members, cousins, patrons, everybody the same," he said. "I know that from the beginning of my term in April that ... these policies will be enforced."
Ramos said he'd like the tribe to consider a number of security improvements to the reservation, such as gating the entrance and exit to the residential area, keeping logs of visitors, installing closed-circuit TV and restricting who's allowed access to the residential area.
Ramos said he also wants to highlight young people's achievements, so they focus on education or sports instead of crime. Ramos, who is pursuing a master's degree in business administration at the University of Redlands, suggested hosting celebratory graduation dinners and creating youth intervention programs to let "them know that the world is bigger than what's going on here."
Life on the reservation has changed rapidly over the past couple of decades, and the 200-member tribe is encountering some growing pains, he said. Now it's time for the tribe, which he said used to run on a $300 annual budget, to "be brought up to speed."
Tribal members now collect $100,000 a month plus bonuses in revenue from the tribe's businesses. Many members live in million-dollar homes and own multiple luxury vehicles.
The tribe can fine members for misconduct, although the amount of the fines, frequency of the policy's use and types of misconduct considered are unclear. Ramos declined to comment on the practice.
When Ramos got into an argument with two fellow tribal members at a November general council meeting, the meeting agenda included an item on fining tribal member Stacy Barajas-Nunez for unspecified misconduct in the casino, according to court documents Ramos filed for his restraining order.
In the restraining order, Ramos said he feared for his life because Barajas-Nunez, one of two members awaiting trial in the murder conspiracy case, has ties to the Mexican Mafia.
Ramos' argument was with both Barajas-Nunez and her father, Ken Barajas, but Ramos ultimately sought and was granted a restraining order against only Ken Barajas.
Ramos was not an elected tribal leader at the time. He served previously as treasurer, tribal gaming commission chairman and as an at-large member of tribe's elected government -- known as the business committee.
Challenges of Change
The problem at San Manuel, former employees and others close to the tribe have said, is that too many members of the general council are influenced by their fear of criminals or their own criminal connections. The members are unlikely to approve tough new policies, one former employee predicted.
"The reality is, it's empty words," said Kevin Villalobos, a former lieutenant with the tribe's public safety department and 14-year law enforcement veteran. "They're trying to control an uncontrollable situation."
Villalobos worked for the tribe for six years, including under two previous chairmen, until his position was eliminated nearly a year ago. The tribe lost a lot of ground when it laid off numerous experienced law-enforcement officers, he said, and has always been handicapped by its own desire to put shielding wayward tribal members above enforcing the law.
Ramos said he is optimistic that he'll be successful and that most tribal members want a healthy, safe environment for their families. He repeatedly emphasized that the problems at the reservation near San Bernardino have been caused by only a small number of tribal members.
The San Bernardino County district attorney said he thinks Ramos is on the right track and he hopes the two can work together to crack down on crime.
Michael Ramos, who is not related to James Ramos, said his office and the tribal government have talked about creating a dedicated district attorney investigator to possibly be stationed at the reservation fulltime.
The district attorney also hopes to promote cooperation between tribal members and outside law enforcement, especially getting help from witnesses to crimes.
"That's an issue they're going to have to tackle if they really want to have a safe environment," he said. "They really have to hold everybody accountable, even their own tribal members.
<http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_sanmanuel05.3a22d9c.html>
Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107.
www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
James Ramos, 41, took office this week amid growing community concerns about organized crime's ties to some tribal members.
"My goal for the next two years of the tribe is really to focus on security policy ... really making sure that tribal members feel safe," said Ramos, who also has served as the tribal unity and cultural awareness director. "You can probably imagine the work that's cut out for me."
Ramos took out a restraining order against a fellow tribal member a few months ago, saying the man threatened him at a tribal meeting and Ramos feared for his safety. Ramos and at least one other tribal family have private security guards for protection.
In an interview Thursday, Ramos stressed that he can't implement these changes by himself; he'll need the support of a majority of the 70 or so voting members of the tribe's general council, and he said it will take time.
Former employees have complained previously that the tribal government has failed to fully tackle the problems. Among the issues are:
The reservation was the site of a Drug Enforcement Administration bust in 2006 that included raids on several homes. The massive investigation targeted the Mexican Mafia, methamphetamine trafficking and street crime. The home of the current tribal treasurer was one of those raided.
Two of the people arrested in that raid were tribal members also charged in a murder-for-hire scheme. They're scheduled to appear in court later this month along with a leading Mexican Mafia member and his brother.
Former tribal employees have said tribal members have been allowed to break laws inside the casino, including assaulting patrons and using drugs, without repercussions. The former employees also say tribal members have instigated brawls and carried weapons into the casino.
Enforcing Policies
Some of those problems can be tackled immediately by enforcing policies and making sure everyone follows casino rules, Ramos said.
"Anybody going in the gaming facility is (going to be) treated just like a customer ... that includes treating tribal members, cousins, patrons, everybody the same," he said. "I know that from the beginning of my term in April that ... these policies will be enforced."
Ramos said he'd like the tribe to consider a number of security improvements to the reservation, such as gating the entrance and exit to the residential area, keeping logs of visitors, installing closed-circuit TV and restricting who's allowed access to the residential area.
Ramos said he also wants to highlight young people's achievements, so they focus on education or sports instead of crime. Ramos, who is pursuing a master's degree in business administration at the University of Redlands, suggested hosting celebratory graduation dinners and creating youth intervention programs to let "them know that the world is bigger than what's going on here."
Life on the reservation has changed rapidly over the past couple of decades, and the 200-member tribe is encountering some growing pains, he said. Now it's time for the tribe, which he said used to run on a $300 annual budget, to "be brought up to speed."
Tribal members now collect $100,000 a month plus bonuses in revenue from the tribe's businesses. Many members live in million-dollar homes and own multiple luxury vehicles.
The tribe can fine members for misconduct, although the amount of the fines, frequency of the policy's use and types of misconduct considered are unclear. Ramos declined to comment on the practice.
When Ramos got into an argument with two fellow tribal members at a November general council meeting, the meeting agenda included an item on fining tribal member Stacy Barajas-Nunez for unspecified misconduct in the casino, according to court documents Ramos filed for his restraining order.
In the restraining order, Ramos said he feared for his life because Barajas-Nunez, one of two members awaiting trial in the murder conspiracy case, has ties to the Mexican Mafia.
Ramos' argument was with both Barajas-Nunez and her father, Ken Barajas, but Ramos ultimately sought and was granted a restraining order against only Ken Barajas.
Ramos was not an elected tribal leader at the time. He served previously as treasurer, tribal gaming commission chairman and as an at-large member of tribe's elected government -- known as the business committee.
Challenges of Change
The problem at San Manuel, former employees and others close to the tribe have said, is that too many members of the general council are influenced by their fear of criminals or their own criminal connections. The members are unlikely to approve tough new policies, one former employee predicted.
"The reality is, it's empty words," said Kevin Villalobos, a former lieutenant with the tribe's public safety department and 14-year law enforcement veteran. "They're trying to control an uncontrollable situation."
Villalobos worked for the tribe for six years, including under two previous chairmen, until his position was eliminated nearly a year ago. The tribe lost a lot of ground when it laid off numerous experienced law-enforcement officers, he said, and has always been handicapped by its own desire to put shielding wayward tribal members above enforcing the law.
Ramos said he is optimistic that he'll be successful and that most tribal members want a healthy, safe environment for their families. He repeatedly emphasized that the problems at the reservation near San Bernardino have been caused by only a small number of tribal members.
The San Bernardino County district attorney said he thinks Ramos is on the right track and he hopes the two can work together to crack down on crime.
Michael Ramos, who is not related to James Ramos, said his office and the tribal government have talked about creating a dedicated district attorney investigator to possibly be stationed at the reservation fulltime.
The district attorney also hopes to promote cooperation between tribal members and outside law enforcement, especially getting help from witnesses to crimes.
"That's an issue they're going to have to tackle if they really want to have a safe environment," he said. "They really have to hold everybody accountable, even their own tribal members.
<http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_sanmanuel05.3a22d9c.html>
Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107.
www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html