Gaming suspended at Minot restaurant after AG investigation | Information, Sports, Jobs

Charitable gaming at a Minot restaurant has been suspended for 90 days after an investigation and enforcement motion was introduced by the Attorney General’s Office towards the Beulah Convention and Visitors Bureau for doable unlawful use of charitable gaming funds.

The Attorney General introduced the revocation of Beulah CVB’s gaming license on Monday March 2, after an investigation allegedly revealed a number of violations of state gaming legal guidelines and rules, together with misrepresentation of economic distributions, improper transfers of web proceeds and inaccurate reporting on official paperwork.

The Attorney General’s Office’s administrative criticism alleges the false reporting of a $277,747 as disbursed to a enterprise which was really directed again to the Beulah CVB; reported donations to a enterprise that have been by no means really made; a battle of curiosity concern involving a CVB board member, and greater than $100,000 of web proceeds unlawfully used for ineligible functions.

“Gaming organizations in North Dakota must follow strict rules, and it’s our responsibility to enforce them fairly. Unfortunately, some organizations and individuals do not take these obligations seriously, as we saw with BCVB,” Attorney General Drew Wrigley mentioned. “Given the scope and gravity of these violations and lack of cooperation with the investigators, I have no choice but to revoke BCVB’s license and require repayment of unlawfully distributed funds. BCVB and the individuals involved will have the opportunity to respond and request a hearing if they wish.”

In addition to the revocation of Beulah CVB’s gaming license, the group was ordered to return $392,287 in improperly expended web proceeds to its belief account and pay a $50,000 penalty to the State of North Dakota. Granville Brinkman, Losson Leonard, Marcie Krumwiede and Lindsey Bofenkamp are prohibited from taking part in gaming actions. A $2,500 advantageous additionally was assessed towards NumberWorks LLC.

According to a redacted model of the executive criticism offered by the Attorney General’s workplace, Brinkman and Krumwiede have been recognized as Beulah CVB workers, whereas Bofenkamp was recognized the de facto bookkeeper for the group.

Leonard, additionally a Beulah CVB board member, was recognized because the proprietor of Uncle Maddio’s Pizza in Minot, which was certainly one of Beulah CVB’s gaming websites positioned in Minot. The Attorney General decided Leonard had a battle of curiosity below the North Dakota Century Code, which prohibits lessors who’re officers from taking part in decision-making associated to gaming.

Leonard is a board member of the CVB, served as vice chair beforehand, and served as a member of the subcommittee which makes determinations concerning disbursements of gaming web proceeds.

The Attorney General additionally recognized various disbursements accredited by the Beulah CVB board which Leonard didn’t recuse himself from. These included disbursements to Minot space animal rescue organizations; $5,000 to the Minot Fire Department for brand spanking new medical gear; $5,000 to the Minot Fireworks Association; $5,000 to Minot Home for the Holidays; $4,000 to native animal shelters and rescues; in addition to donations to the Taube Museum of Art and $2,500 to the Minot Council for the Arts for the Union Silo portray mission.

The Attorney General decided Leonard interfered with and influenced the group’s disbursement of web proceeds whereas he was gaming lessor at Uncle Maddio’s, fined him $2,500 and suspended gaming on the institution for 90 days.

According to the executive criticism, when N.D. Attorney General gaming workers met with then Beulah CVB board member Cody Nelson on Nov. 21, 2024, Nelson mentioned the gaming cash being spent in Minot was proportional to the quantity of gaming cash being raised on the two Minot areas.

Other areas Beulah CVB was previously licensed for charitable gaming included Molco Lanes/Dewey’s Lounge, Fanatics Sports Bar, Black Sands Golf Course and the Mercer County Fairgrounds, all in Beulah.