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Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council chairman arrested on extortion, bribery charges

Jessica Hill 

Nov 13, 2020

This is a breaking news story, which will be updated as more information becomes available.

MASHPEE — Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell was arrested Friday on bribery and extortion charges related to the tribe's plans to build a resort and casino in Taunton, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. 

Cromwell and David DeQuattro, owner of a Providence, Rhode Island, architectural firm, were indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with an alleged scheme "to enrich themselves personally," the statement says.

They were each indicted on two counts of accepting or paying bribes as an agent of an Indian tribal government and one count of conspiring to commit bribery. Cromwell, 55, also was indicted on four charges of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiring to commit extortion. 

Cromwell and DeQuattro are scheduled to appear for a court hearing via videoconference Friday afternoon. 

Related:Grand jury seeks Mashpee tribe's casino documents

Related:Grand jury subpoenas more documents from Mashpee tribe

“The charges allege that Mr. Cromwell violated the trust he owed the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe by committing extortion, accepting bribes and otherwise abusing his position,” Lelling said in the statement. “Many American Indians face a host of difficult financial and social issues. They require — and deserve — real leadership. But it appears that Cromwell’s priority was not to serve his people, but to line his own pockets.”

Cromwell led the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Gaming Authority, which entered a contract for consulting services with DeQuattro’s architecture and design company. Between 2014 and 2017 the architecture firm provided Cromwell with $57,549 in payments and benefits, and in exchange the architecture firm was paid almost $5 million under its contract with the gaming authority, according to the indictment.  

DeQuattro allegedly wrote personal checks to Cromwell, totaling $44,000, through CM International Consulting LLC, which is owned by an unnamed friend of Cromwell’s, the statement says. Cromwell directed his friend to deposit DeQuattro’s checks and use the money to buy treasurer’s checks payable to Cromwell or another entity that he had incorporated called One Nation Development, the statement says. 

DeQuattro also wrote one $10,000 check directly to One Nation Development. 

The indictment also alleges that Cromwell spent all of the money on personal expenses, including payments to his mistress, the statement says. DeQuattro also allegedly bought a Bowflex Revolution home gym for Cromwell and had it delivered to his home and agreed to pay for Cromwell’s stay at a Boston hotel for his birthday. 

If found guilty, Cromwell could face up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 for extortion. 

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