Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced in Casino Corruption Case
A former Republican Indiana state senator has been sentenced to 12 months and a day in a federal prison this past week after admitting to pushing legislation favorable to an Indiana casino company in exchange for the promise of a future job with the company worth at least $350,000 a year.
Sean Eberhart will also have to pay a $25,000 fine as well as $60,000 in restitution.
Eberhart pleaded guilty on Nov. 28 to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, a federal felony that carried a sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of probation.
A Spectacle Entertainment executive identified as "Individual A" conspired with other unnamed individuals to deprive the residents of Eberhart's district of honest services through bribery and concealment, according to the complaint.
Federal prosecutors also identified Rod Ratcliff, one of the state's most powerful casino executives, as a conspirator in a scheme to illegally funnel casino cash to a former state senator's congressional campaign.
As a result of this case, the state of Indiana halted any plans to introduce legislation pushing for regulation of online casino games. Currently those in Indiana can play online blackjack, roulette, slots, craps and similar web casino games with pay per head platforms and offshore gambling websites.
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