Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi says she should have clarified a comment during a media conference last week that linked a tribal casino with a money laundering investigation.
I want to make it clear that I in no way am implying that the casino was involved in any crime, Bondi said Thursday.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida has said Bondis comment at the Dec. 8 media conference could damage its reputation.
Bondi said she was repeating a comment told her by a Hillsborough County sheriffs deputy.
The comment centered on how drug dealers would go to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, by playing table games that require chips, thus be able to exchange money from the local drug trade for non-drug trade money.
Thats a way the drug dealers launder their money, but in no way did I mean to imply the casino was part of it, said Bondi, who was a prosecutor with the Hillsborough State Attorneys Office prior to running for state office.
During a question-and-answer session with the media on Dec. 8, Bondi said her decision to support the No Casino opposition to the destination gaming bills -- HB 487 and SB 710, filed by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami -- now before the Legislature is due to casinos leading to an increase in crime.
In Hillsborough County, many of the last drug-trafficking cases that they made, the money was laundered through the casino,'' she said on Dec. 8. So that is a prime way to launder money in illegal drug cases.
Later, when asked by a reporter, she said the case she was referring to involved the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa.
Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman James Billie responded with a column on the Tribes website that claimed Bondis comment was "damaging to the reputation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida."
"With all due respect, Attorney General Bondi must know that everything the Seminole Tribe does regarding gaming is watched with intensity, Billie wrote. By our very nature as sovereign American Indian gaming operators, all of Seminole Gaming, from our small hometown operation in Brighton to our tall Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, is scrutinized by more eyes at more agencies than any other gaming enterprise in the state.
"Im talking about the U.S. Department of the Interior-Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and, yes, State of Florida auditors, themselves!"
Billie was not immediately available Thursday to respond to Bondis latest comments.
Bondi said while a prosecutor she had a great relationship with the Seminoles.
Hard Rock Casino is very vigilant; I think they do everything possible to follow the law, Bondi said. The casinos are not at fault.
The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office noted in a statement Thursday that Bondi did talk with Chief Deputy Jose Docobo at a private function regarding money laundering in casinos.
However, our office has not conducted any investigation involving money laundering at casinos, nor do we have any official information that this type of criminal activity is/has occurred in Hillsborough County, the sheriffs office statement read.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or (772) 215-9889.
