Former Tribal Leader Convicted in MA Casino Bribery Case

A jury convicted a former Mashpee Wampanoag leader on extortion and bribery-related charges concerning the awarding of casino project contracts.

Cedric Cromwell, a former Massachusetts Native American tribal leader, was convicted of bribery and extortion. David DeQuattro, who owns an architecture firm, also was found guilty of the same charges. The sentencing will take place in September.  The bribery-related charges each carry a possible prison sentence of up to ten years and a fine worth up $250,000.

Cromwell was the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe chairman and the Tribe’s Gaming Authority president at the time of the offenses. He was convicted of taking bribes from DeQuattro between 2015 and 2017 in the form of $10,000, a weekend hotel stay at an upmarket Boston property, and a home gym system. In return, Cromwell awarded almost $5m worth of casino project contracts to Dequattr.

Cromwell is not the first leader of the tribe to find himself in trouble with the authorities. His predecessor Glenn Marshall went to federal prison in 2009 due to violations of federal campaign finance laws and embezzling tribal funds.