Osage Casinos CEO Byron Bighorse Resigns As Congressman Slams 'Repugnant' Use Of Money
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TULSA, Okla. — The CEO of Osage Casinos, Byron Bighorse, resigned his position in December, and the resignation appears to be related to the revelation of alleged misuse of finances by Bighorse.
In an open letter to the Osage Nation Congress, Osage Congressman Eli Potts excoriated what he called "repugnant" uses of Osage Casinos funds by Bighorse. Potts posted a 1,556-page report on his website, itemizing the use of funds; he highlighted ten in his letter, which included a private trip, membership to The Patriot Golf Club, and other items.
The Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise Board has since announced the hiring of Kimberly Pearson as the new CEO of Osage Casinos.
Potts' full letter is republished below.
"CEO Kimberly Pearson is a longstanding member of the Osage Nation, and has been an integral leader in the strategic growth of our organization, including the Osage Casino project in Lake of the Ozarks," Geoff Hager, Chairman of the Gaming Enterprise Board. "Osage Casinos has a proven track record of delivering world-class entertainment venues, employing local residents, and giving back to local communities through numerous charitable endeavors. We remain a committed partner invested in the economic growth of the community, and look forward to continued momentum in opening a casino in Lake of the Ozarks."
When asked for comment, Pearson also mentioned the planned casino at Lake of the Ozarks: "As CEO, I do not take lightly our responsibility to the tribe and the communities in which we operate. I look forward to continued momentum in Lake of the Ozarks and investing in its economic growth."
Osage Nation Congress
Member of Congress Eli Potts
Gaming Enterprise Expenses 12/14/2022
On November 22, 2022, I made a motion to Congress dated Sept. 21, 2022, and all supporting documents submitted with the report as public information in accordance with Osage law”. The Congress voted to allow the Osage public to view this report.
The report contains 1,556 pages of detailed spending, many of which can only be characterized as repugnant. For years, I’ve been sounding a clarion call for accountability and transparency. Our Nation must now have a real conversation about the need for strong financial controls and a true system of checks and balances that ends the practice of turning a blind eye.
I’ve posted the entire report on my website, https://www.elipotts.com/publicdocuments.
I strongly encourage you to review the report and leave your opinions and reactions in the comments on my social media page where the link is also posted. It’s important that we all understand just how deep the problems run.
Below is a list of the most significant expenditures I’ve reviewed to date:
1. Wynn Hotel Las Vegas NutriDrip IV: The Chief’s Executive Advisor, Sheryl Decker, and a Casino employee, on a trip to the National Indian Gaming Association’s annual conference in Las Vegas (also paid for per the expense reports), obtained services from NutriDrip for a total of $649.75. The treatment included “Toradol”, a prescription strength pain reliever that must be administered by a medical professional, per the company’s website.
References: p. 1007
2. Patriot Club Expenses: The Gaming CEO joined the Patriot Golf Club in June of 2017. In April of 2019, the Gaming Enterprise reimbursed the Gaming CEO a total of $39,121.21 for all Patriot Club expenses that had been incurred. Including: the $12,000 initiation fee, “Kids Club Meal Programs”, Maui Jim glasses- $357.08, Kid’s golf lessons, “clubs for Jennifer”- $1,488.62, lululemon women’s clothing, golf clubs for children, 2 Junior Camp Fees, special order women’s golf shoes- $478.50, etc.
Accompanying the reimbursement expense is a note that reads, “No record of official board action”- p. 1200.
In September of 2021, the Gaming CEO paid back $5,222.99 of these “business expenses”, about the time Congress Members asked the Attorney General about our ability to review such documents, but 29 months AFTER receiving reimbursement from the casino.
References: p. 1200-1209, p. 395, p. 405, p. 423, p. 457, p. 460, p. 464, p. 474, and various pages 379-511
3. Custom Brass Coins from/for Board Member: Board Member Mark Simms is reflected as ordering 50 “custom antique brass coins” from a designer in Bartlesville totaling of $2,224.25. This is a purchase by a board member or for a board member, reimbursed to a casino executive. No record of board action was submitted. References: p. 22-23, 34
4. Mother’s Day Brunch: The Gaming CEO expensed a “Mother’s Day Brunch” for 4 guests on 5/9/2021 at the Tulsa Summit Club. Alcohol Consumption: approximately 30 drinks Totaling: $552.19
References: p. 68
5. Social Fundraising-Where’s Rosie?Gaming CEO and spouse attended the Tulsa Air & Space Museum and Planetarium’s 2021 Aviator Ball on May 22, 2021 at the Casino’s expense with two friends as announced on social media. Two live auction items were expensed to the Casino: A Planetarium Party for 40 guests ($600), and a 34” tall “Rosie the Riveter Statue” ($500), and another silent auction item for $100. Total: $1,200. There is no record of how those items were or have been utilized.
Reference: p. 60, Social Media posts
6. The Summit Club:7/13/2021 & 7/29/2021
These two nights cost the Osage people $6,603.49.
$3,462 of the $6,603.49 was for alcohol including: 4 drinks of Macallan 30-year-old scotch for $1,860; $465 a drink. The social media posts from that same evening reflect attendance by one Mark Larson. A person by this same name is listed on Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear’s campaign report as a $10,000 dollar contributor to his reelection campaign. References: p. 132-133, Social Media posts,
7. Tulsa Country Club,8/29/2021
Total Charged: $1,178.20. The $626.60 dinner for 37 guests was later requested to be paid for by the Gaming CEO. Context: Reported to be a back-to-school swimming party at which a Casino Employee is suspected to have used a racial slur that resulted in the Tulsa Country Club Membership being cancelled.
References: p. 585-588
8. Private Planes
Records show that Chief Standing Bear and his Assistant, Byron Bighorse and his Assistant, and Jennifer Bighorse, were all registered by the Gaming Enterprise for the National Indian Gaming Association conference that was held 7/19/2021-7/21/2021 in Las Vegas, NV. Documents reflect Bighorse’s Assistant later booked flights on American Airlines for three passengers, including trip insurance. It is unknown how Chief Standing Bear and Ms. Decker traveled to the conference. However, there are additional private flight expenses detailed during that time which include the following:
7/19/2021: Atlantic Aviation- $2,188.27
7/20/2021: TulsAir Beechcraft- $1,526.40
7/21/2021: TulsAir Beechcraft- $144.00
7/22/2021: Atlantic Aviation- $2,097.51
7/22/2021: TulsAir Beechcraft- $1,337.60
*This is the same trip in which Ms. Stumpff and Ms. Decker utilized services at NutriDrip IV for treatments, which is detailed in #1 of this document. References: p. 70-77, p. 84-122 (nearly illegible)
9. Parking Ticket: CEO Byron Bighorse used Casino funds to pay for a parking citation. The Gaming Board approved this payment.
References: P. 169
10. Dining Charged with CEO/Business Clients Absent: The report is rife with unexplained dining charged to the CEO’s accounts. There are missing receipts, or signatures that are questionably not that of the account holder/member. An employee notes an expense report is being submitted with missing receipts, and the response is lacking in concern- “If they are lost (because sometimes they DO get lost) just reply that they are lost and use the e-mail as the attachment.” References: P. 43
The relationship between the Casino’s top employees and the Nation’s top officials is well known. The referenced CEO is the Chief’s son in law, the Chief’s daughter is the former Director of Marketing, and the Chief’s spouse was recently employed by the Osage Casinos as well. Executive officials have flown on the private planes and the Chief has had trips paid for by the Casino Operations as indicated by these reports. Many of these expenditures have individually benefitted the Chief or his extended family.
This situation warrants resignation or removal of officials by the Osage Nation Congress. It demonstrates the need for stronger legal controls to enforce our anti-nepotism laws, signals the need for strong internal controls and more sound financial policy throughout our Nation and business enterprises. Congress must work together to exercise our financial oversight responsibilities on a more frequent and extensive occasion.
My hope is that Congress can work together through its hearing process and demand accountability for the Osage People. WE have work to do.
