Two decades ago Cheves was indicted in federal court on charges of illegal gambling in Ohio - a case that was later dropped. It also includes legal troubles - both criminal and civil - in several states. In the last two years Cheves has given $160,000 to the Republican National Committee and hundreds of thousands more to campaigns and political action committees that supported politicians working to remove obstacles for the casino.Ĭheves also brings to the project a checkered history in gaming that includes video poker, electronic bingo, sweepstakes games and riverboat gambling. Wallace Cheves, the South Carolina businessman developing the casino through his company Skyboat Gaming, brought serious political influence to the fight. The South Carolina tribe needed to change federal law and longstanding Indian gaming policy to move across the border, to a state friendlier to gaming.īut they had a secret weapon: a partnership with a well-connected Republican mega-donor. When the Catawba Indian Nation began a seven-year battle to open a new casino resort in Cleveland County, it faced long odds. Wallace Cheves, whose previous legal troubles include millions in civil fines, used this money to clear legal obstacles for the project A company he owns did cybersecurity and other work for the casino project and was compensated with a stake in the casino, a representative of his company told the Journal.South Carolina businessman Wallace Cheves is working behind the scenes to remove obstacles for the proposed Catawba Indian casino. Nikki Haley, also has a small stake in AGS of North Carolina LLC, the Journal reported.

Michael Haley, husband of former South Carolina Gov. He said he was unaware of his brother’s financial tie and that they had not discussed the project, the Journal reported. James Clyburn in March 2021 sponsored successful legislation that reaffirmed in federal law the interior department’s decision enabling the Catawba to own and operate a gaming facility in Cleveland County. While he is not listed as a shareholder, he is affiliated with a company that owns a portion of a company called AGS of North Carolina LLC, which owns 10.1% of Kings Mountain Equipment Supply, the Journal reported. James Clyburn of South Carolina, received notice he had a small stake in a company related to the Catawba casino in 2013 and has since received about a half-dozen payments as high as $1,300. The Wall Street Journal reported that John B.

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