A Federally recognized Indian Tribe Casino right next to Disneyland in California?  How is it possible that in the middle of Orange County there can be an unknown, unrecognized yet legitimate Indian Tribe, which might have the right to a Casino?

We don’t know, but the players and participants are already involved in legal malpractice cases.

" GARDEN GROVE – Jonathan Stein believes his tribe is going to build a casino a few blocks away from Disneyland in the heart of Garden Grove.

The Santa Monica attorney and New Jersey native is not a member of the Gabrielino-Tongva Indian tribe or even a resident of Orange County. But as the tribe’s chief investor, Stein is the driving force behind an ambitious, long-shot attempt to reshape the landscape of Orange County’s high-profile resort area by bringing in the county’s first gaming casino.

If built, the casino resort – plans call for high-end hotels, slot machines, card tables, upscale stores and other entertainment venues – is projected to generate about $70 million for the city annually.

Stein’s history with Indian tribes started in 2001 when he got together with Sam Dunlap, a Gabrielino, and helped him form the Gabrielino Tribal Council, with the goal of helping the tribe secure gaming rights.

The group fell out with Stein, and each party ended up suing the other. Stein alleged that the group did not pay him what was owed to him. The group accuses Stein of breach of fiduciary duty and trust; legal malpractice and misappropriation of trade secrets, according to court filings.

Tribal vice chairman Martin Alcala said he believes Stein led them down the wrong path by telling them they did not need federal approvals.

"He wanted to take control of everything, including the money," Alcala said. "And when we parted company, he did everything in his power to destroy us."

But Stein dismisses that contention and maintains that it was he who raised more than $20 million from Wall Street for the tribe.

"I spent more than five years unifying the tribe," Stein said. He says the Santa Monica Gabrielinos account for a little over 80 percent of the total Gabrielino population in the country.