Ex-Indiana lawmaker sentenced in casino money scheme

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A former Indiana state senator was sentenced Wednesday to 10 months in jail for his position in a scheme that illegally funneled cash from a on line casino firm to his unsuccessful 2016 congressional marketing campaign.

The federal investigation into contributions to Republican Brent Waltz’s marketing campaign tied to a former on line casino govt led the Indiana Gaming Fee to power the corporate out of its profitable possession of initiatives for brand new casinos in Gary and Terre Haute.

Waltz, 48, of Greenwood, pleaded responsible in April to serving to route about $40,000 in unlawful contributions to his marketing campaign and making false statements to the FBI.

Waltz mentioned throughout Wednesday’s courtroom listening to that his “biggest remorse” was that his actions tarnished his fame as a public servant, which included 12 years as a state senator representing the southern suburbs of Indianapolis, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Federal prosecutors had requested the 10-month sentence. U.S. District Decide James Sweeney, who additionally ordered Waltz to pay a high-quality of $40,500, may have sentenced him to as much as 5 years in jail on every cost.

A sentencing listening to was scheduled Wednesday afternoon for John Keeler, a former prime govt of Indianapolis-based Centaur Gaming.

Keeler, a lawyer who was a Republican legislator for 16 years within the Eighties and 90s, pleaded responsible in April to submitting a false tax return for claiming as a enterprise expense $41,000 that the on line casino firm paid to a political marketing consultant who, prosecutors say, made the contributions via straw donors.

Centaur Gaming offered two Indiana two horse observe casinos to Las Vegas-based Caesars Leisure Corp. in 2018 for $1.7 billion. Keeler and longtime Indiana on line casino heavyweight Rod Ratcliff later led a gaggle that then fashioned Spectacle Leisure to purchase the Gary on line casino operation.

The September 2020 indictment of Keeler and Waltz led to Spectacle Leisure being pressured from possession of Gary and Terre Haute on line casino initiatives now run by different firms.

The state gaming fee additionally raised monetary misconduct allegations towards Ratcliff, who agreed to surrender his state on line casino license and exit the playing business. Ratcliff has not confronted any felony costs.

Federal prosecutors urged the decide to condemn Waltz and Keeler to not less than 10 months in jail to discourage related crimes by others. Prosecutors described each males as rich with profitable careers.

“None of this was sufficient for both defendant,” prosecutors wrote in a courtroom submitting. “They wished extra, and so they selected to commit crimes of alternative — not financial necessity — to get what they wished.”

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