Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioThe Louisiana State Police (LSP) Gaming Enforcement Division is investigating alleged financial misconduct at the Coushatta Casino Resort, one of the largest tribal gaming properties in the state. LSP is following parallel federal probes into the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana’s finances.
The allegations center around the tribe’s former chairman, Jonathan Cernek, who abruptly resigned in 2024. Two other former employees are also subject to investigation: Todd Stewart, who served as the general manager and chief financial officer, and Paula Corliss, the venue’s purchasing manager.
Federal & State Investigations Overlap
At the end of October, it was revealed that federal agencies, including the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the FBI, were reviewing whether Cernek used a casino credit card for personal expenses.
According to audit materials cited by the Louisiana Illuminator, one independent audit found 338 transactions in just two months. They totaled more than $111,000 without supporting receipts.
The same audit revealed purchases tied to the former chairman’s home. It also highlighted a lack of a tracking mechanism for credit card use. Federal regulators allege Cernek used the credit card to build and furnish his personal home.
Stewart told auditors he did not know how many credit cards were linked to the casino’s accounts. He was also unaware of who was using them. In a later statement, he cited invoices for “bathroom fixtures” delivered to the Cernek residence.
The NIGC ordered the Coushatta Tribal Gaming Commission in September 2025 to suspend Stewart’s license for failure to report Cernek’s misconduct.
LSP Gaming Enforcement spokesperson Lt. Robert Dowdy confirmed that the agency receives “regular reports from the tribe.” It also “coordinates daily” with the Coushatta Tribal Gaming Commission. He described the matter as an active investigation but declined to provide further details.
Oversight & Reputational Risk
Because the Coushatta Casino operates under a tribal-state compact, the LSP has shared enforcement authority over its gaming operations. Should investigators confirm misuse of casino funds, the tribe could face regulatory penalties. It could also face loss of lender confidence and potential disruption of its expansion financing.
The revelations follow a turbulent year for the tribe. That includes multiple interviews by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs with Corliss. The former purchasing manager raised internal spending concerns before departing the casino.
The latest developments could further strain the tribe’s $150 million casino and hotel expansion plans.
Broader Pattern: Financial Misconduct & Gambling Addiction
The Coushatta case comes amid a growing trend of embezzlement by individuals in financial positions related to gambling. Yet, unlike the Louisiana casino probe—where funds were allegedly diverted away from the gaming operation—most of these recent cases involve money stolen to feed personal gambling addictions.
- In Ohio, a former housing-agency executive admitted stealing $2.3 million to “feed it into slot machines because she’s an addicted gambler”.
- In Maryland, a senior budget analyst from the State Department admitted to abusing her signature authority over a checking account. She used funds “to fuel her gambling addiction.”
- In Minnesota, a former accounting manager at a surrogacy agency received a sentence of over four years for embezzling $2.7 million from her employer. She used the funds “to fuel her online gambling addiction.”
- In Pennsylvania, a former secretary-treasurer of Gregg Township admitted to stealing over $532,000 from her municipality. That included $322,000 spent on her DraftKings account.
- In Washington state, a former state worker received an 18-month sentence for embezzling over $870,000 to fuel his gambling habit.
- In Texas, a former controller of an oil-field equipment firm allegedly stole over $680,000 to “feed his gambling habit.”
Collectively, these cases expose a consistent pattern: easy access to funds, lax oversight, and addiction eroding professional judgment.
