Former Pechanga Tribe CFO and an Insurance Agent on Trial For Fraud

Jury selection concluded for the day Thursday in a trial for two men accused of diverting $4 million in insurance funds into their personal bank accounts. 

Prospective jurors were ordered back to court Monday.

James William Riley, 48, of Corona and Ryan Jay Robinson, 41, of Temecula are each charged with grand theft and commercial burglary.

Riley is additionally charged with money laundering, according to court documents. He faces 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Robinson -- the Pechanga tribe's former chief financial officer -- faces 10 years.

On Thursday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Elisabeth Sichel ruled on the admissibility of evidence in two matters -- one of them regarding Casino Pauma in San Diego County.

Opening statements should begin next week.

Accordiing to the complaint filed by the District Attorney's Office, Riley and Robinson conspired to steal money from the  Pechanga tribe that was intended to pay property insurance premiums for the Pechanga Development Corp.

The D.A.'s office also alleges Riley artificially inflated premiums.

The stolen money was then allegedly funneled through several bank accounts before Riley withdrew the money in the form of cashier's checks, prosecutors allege.

Riley is free on bond for $1 million bail; Robinson is out on $120,000.  

---City News Service contributed to this report