NY Inspector General cites minority business fraud on Southern Tier casino project

Auburn Pub Article

“Tioga Downs hit the jackpot in 2016 when New York state licensed it to turn its Southern Tier harness racing track into a full-fledged casino.

But contractors evaded state rules requiring that minority or women-owned businesses be hired for portions of the $44 million casino job, the State Inspector General’s Office said in documents made public today.

On paper, some minority-owned companies were paid to provide the casino with electrical products and food supplies, Inspector General Lucy Lang said. But the supplies were actually provided to the casino by companies owned by white people. The minority companies did little more than submit invoices, according to the inspector general.”