"Nickels' son indicted with dozens in scheme to cheat casinos"
Jacob Dyson Nickels, the son of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, has been indicted as part of an investigation into a multi-state casino-cheating ring that allegedly stole millions of dollars by bribing casino employees to falsely shuffle decks.Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 24, 2007 03:55 PM | Email This
Step 2 - how to get the money into the general fund so it can be handed out to the needy.
On the other hand, maybe they just bypassed the middleman....
Posted by: SouthernRoots on May 24, 2007 04:14 PMWould that be like the high caliber responses to Jerry Falwell's death? Or the high caliber responses to the idea that a suicide bomber missed Dick Cheney? Or the high claber responses to Ronald Reagan's death?
I thought the standard was already set. I guess I'm just confused.
Posted by: Ken on May 24, 2007 04:49 PMWhen u run for public office, you are considered fresh meat...... Look at GWB, he can't take a poop without the liberals pointing out it doesn't float.....
Posted by: chris on May 24, 2007 05:27 PMI also object to the Seattle Times getting into the mayor's face on this.
While I understand that people love a great "Greek Tragedy" and that it needs to involve a prominent person and his family, I think that outside of just reporting the news, folks should let it pass.
The politics of personal destruction needs to get cooled down.
Posted by: Bob on May 24, 2007 05:45 PMI should be so impovershed as to get to own a monopoly casino.
Not downplaying Lil Nickels' crimes here, just pointing out that there's a reason they went after Indian Gaming, and it wasnt because of their poverty.
Posted by: DaveD on May 24, 2007 07:04 PMSeems like the story behind massive spending of the Mayor of Seattle may be coming to a head. Will the MSM probe further ? no, it is against their religion of liberalism. It's up to the alternative media to carry the torch, so those in Seattle might someday not be financially oppressed - (yeah right)
Posted by: KS on May 24, 2007 09:17 PMThen again, today's kids are so filled with leftist drivel. Jacob and fellow cheaters probably thought they were owed the money because the casinos always win the most.
Posted by: Jeff B. on May 24, 2007 09:39 PMI agree with you. People in the public eye who are there by choice have to deal with a public life. Being attacked is part of that bargin. I didn't like it when the private lives of the Bush twins were examined and now in this time of tragedy for this family, even public figures have private family time, I don't like this being exploited. If this kid is convicted, he will have to deal with it. Still, whatever political disagreements there are, I wish this family the best as they attempt to deal with this situation.
Posted by: WVH on May 24, 2007 09:41 PMWhat makes this story so juicy is that Nickles son was screwing over on of the biggest sources of democrat donations: Tribal Casinos.
Apparently Jake hasn't learned not to bite the hand that feeds you.
Posted by: Streetwise on May 24, 2007 10:04 PMThis is one of the few opportunities the mayor will have to show he isn't always a typical liberal whiner. So long as he doesn't blame a vast right wing conspriacy, George Bush, or the evil casino security people, he can come out of this situation with some dignity. I read the indictment and the best thing the mayor can do is let justice run its course. We shall see.
Posted by: Burdabee on May 24, 2007 10:04 PMFact: We know that the Tribes and certain politicans have a very close relationship.
Question: I wonder how many other politicans have family members working at other Tribal Casinos, etc.
Someone had to know somebody to be able to rise to the rank of Pit Boss at such a young age.
According to several articles young Nickles introduced the one of the ring's conspirators to crooked dealers. There is a old saying that it is assumed that you are like those with whom you associate with.
Nickles has lived in Whatcom County since 2003 however the Voter database indicates he lives at home with his parents and voted in the November 2006 elections. Now just where does he live.... Whatcom Co or King Co.
If guilty, how about community service cleaning bum urine, trash & excrement from parks, tent cities & graffitti from buildings done by the perps (clientele) that his Dad's administration loves so dearly?
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on May 25, 2007 03:55 AMWhat if Nickels the senior pulled some strings to help junior Nickels get that job? Are we allowed to talk about it then?
Posted by: Palouse on May 25, 2007 07:49 AM1. How many relatives of politicos and/or those with regulatory oversight are employed by casinos directly or by venders that regularly deal with the casinos?
2. Are regulatory decisions being influenced by any flow of funds to those in decisionmaking
positions?
3. How did an individual so inexperienced get this job?
When one studies corrupt systems and systemic corruption, there is a breakdown in the regulatory systems and regulation is replaced by patronage and backroom deals.
Posted by: WVH on May 25, 2007 08:07 AMFurther south in America's #1 Weird City one of the City Council member's spouse was given a plumb position, on the board if my memory is correct, of a casino. Did little or nothing and was and was compensated like a Tacoma political insider. This while the Casino in question, who's majority owner had been palced on the Utilities board and was in position to "return favors" by siding with the Council instead of acting in the primary interest of Utility rate payers, was applying for a "varience" which would give him a monopoly waterfront casino.
This isn't something which I would find at all surprising in Washington State. I suspect he went into the "gaming" business with the old man's and perhaps on his advice.
Posted by: JDH on May 25, 2007 08:18 AM