Indiana Lawmaker Receives Jail Time In Casino Corruption CaseCongressman Backed Bill In Exchange For Six-Figure Job |
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A former Indiana state congressman was sentenced to a year in prison this week after pushing a casino bill in exchange for a six-figure job with the company.
Former Rep. Sean Eberhart® pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit fraud in November as part of a plea deal. He also agreed to pay $60,000 in restitution, about the same as his annual pay as a state lawmaker.
“I am truly and deeply sorry for what I did,” Eberhart said in court. He also said he took “full responsibility” for his actions.
Details On The Case
The case stems from an incident in 2019 in which a casino company called Spectacle Entertainment was seeking to relocate two lakeside casinos from the city of Gary.
Prosecutors said Eberhart worked to pass legislation that would help Spectacle, and that included reducing an $80 million licensing fee as well as tax incentives for the move. Prosecutors noted that the bill may have passed even without Everhart’s backing, which may not have ended up being very beneficial to the company.
Eberhart advocated for the legislation in exchange for a future job with a $350,000 annual salary.
“I have to think it was simply a matter of greed,” U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Brookman said.
Spectacle was also investigated at state and federal levels after the incident came to light. That led to charges involving illegal campaign contributions against another executive, John Keeler, and former Indiana state Sen. Brent Waltz®.
Keeler received two months in federal prison and a $55,000 fine. Waltz was given 10 months in federal prison and Spectacle was forced to give up ownership of casino projects in Gary and Terre Haute. The Gary casino was taken over by Hard Rock International in 2021.
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