Soboba tribe chairman pleads not guilty to accepting $250,000 in bribes, placed on leave

Soboba chair pleads not guilty, placed on leave

LOS ANGELES — The chairman of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians has pleaded not guilty to accepting more than $250,000 in bribes from tribal vendors.

Soboba Chairman Robert Salgado was placed on administrative leave by the tribal council which met in closed session on Tuesday. He entered the plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Salgado is charged in a 36-count indictment with conspiracy, bribery and filing a false tax return. Prosecutors say Salgado accepted bribes from vendors who had business contracts with the tribe, which is based in Riverside County.

Abbas Shilleh, who was also charged with bribery in the indictment, pleaded not guilty Monday. Shilleh owns a company that provides valet parking at the Soboba Casino.