Casino Promises Seemed Too Good to be True

The spate of lawsuits against would-be casino developer Anthony DeFeo should serve, if nothing else, as a cautionary tale for local elected officials and public administrators.

First, let's make it clear that anyone can file a lawsuit for most any reason. The court has yet to weigh the merits of these cases. DeFeo is not guilty of anything.

That said, the lawsuits filed in Macomb County Circuit Court are disturbing. They accuse him of misleading investors in a Kimball Township casino development.

DeFeo, 56, a native of the Syracuse, N.Y., area, is a tireless promoter of projects that don't necessarily come to pass. At various times, he has sought to interest investors in the development of hospitals on land to be acquired by Indian tribes in Michigan and California. Think of it as off-reservation medicine.

Four years ago, he proposed building a casino, water park and two 500-room hotels in downtown Port Huron. When that project stalled, he shifted his focus to 420 acres owned by the Afr family at the Range Road exit of Interstate 94 in Kimball Township.

He proposed a $600 million development including a 505-room hotel, 7,800-seat indoor arena, 8,000-seat stadium and a 400,000-square-foot convention center -- a facility larger than the Novi Expo Center.

DeFeo made no public mention of a casino, but investors were shown plans for a 307,000-square-foot casino -- or 7 acres under roof -- with more than 5,000 slot machines. It would have surpassed Soaring Eagle in Mount Pleasant as the state's largest casino.

Many observers were skeptical, to say the least.

For the complete story, please Big promises deserve big skepticism, The Times Herald, November 12, 2008.