Indian bilker

Bart Wayne Volen, who has residences in San Diego and Hawaii, yesterday (June 12) pleaded guilty to looting $17 million to $19 million from owners of the Thunder Valley Casino near Lincoln, according to the Sacramento Bee and Auburn Journal.

The usually boisterous Volen was somber as he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, money-laundering, and filing a false tax return.

Volen agreed to pay restitution of at least $17 million and to cooperate with federal prosecutors seeking the convictions of two other men charged with helping him defraud the United Auburn Indian Community in an overbilling scam tied to a construction project.

He could get up to nine years in prison but could get the sentence cut in half if he provides substantial assistance to prosecutors.