A jury trial for former Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Chairman Cedric Cromwell has been set for September 7 in U.S. District Court in Boston. Cromwell and Rhode Island architect David DeQuattro both face charges of bribery.
Cromwell was removed as chairman last November, following his indictment for his alleged role in a bribery scheme related to the tribe’s plans to build a casino in Taunton. He is accused of conspiring with DeQuattro, owner of an architecture firm that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Gaming Authority contracted with to construct the casino. As tribal chairman, Cromwell also was president of the gaming authority.
Cromwell has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to commit bribery, one count of conspiring to commit extortion, two counts of accepting or paying bribes as an agent of an Indian tribal government and four counts of extortion under color of official right. He also pleaded not guilty to four charges of filing false tax returns.
DeQuattro has pleaded not guilty to two counts of paying bribes to an agent of an Indian tribal government and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
The government alleges between July 26, 2014, and May 18, 2017, DeQuattro, through his architecture firm, provided Cromwell with payments and in-kind benefits valued at $57,549. In exchange, the architecture firm allegedly was paid about $4,966,287 under its contract with the tribe’s gaming authority.
During the court proceedings in April, Assistant U.S. District Attorney Christine Wichers said the government expects to call around 30 witnesses for a 2-week trial.
