Eight charged with Hopland casino embezzlement

<p>Eight former employees of the Hopland tribe's Sho-Ka-Wah casino are facing charges they embezzled more than $102,000.</p><p>Ukiah resident Joan Pickron, 42, and seven alleged co-conspirators who live in Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties are being charged in the case, according to the state Attorney General's Office. They were scheduled for arraignments this week and Sept. 20.</p><p>The arrests stem from a 2008 investigation into a minor policy violation, said Brett Rhodes, chief of police for the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians.</p><p>The investigation by the tribe's gaming commission uncovered the embezzlement, he said.</p><p>Tribal police and the state Department of Justice's gaming division continued the investigation when discrepancies were found, Rhodes said.</p><p>Pickron is accused of accessing the casino's online accounting system to create false jackpots that she would then pay out to her alleged co-conspirators, he said. The slot machines themselves were not manipulated, Rhodes said.</p><p>Pickron,John Steven Glass, Jr., 38, of Ukiah and Alex Ralph Martin, 47, of Ukiah were booked into the Mendocino County jail Aug. 19 after ignoring notices to appear in court, Justice department officials said.</p><p>Roberta Lynn Reeder of Ukiah, Mary Ann Moore of Rohnert Park, Gloria Marie Nelson of Nice; and Thomas Jay Williams,of Redwood Valley turned themselves in June 26. One, unidentified suspect remains at large, officials said.</p>