Former Indiana legislator agrees to plead guilty to fraud in casino corruption scheme
Federal prosecutors say a former Indiana lawmaker has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge alleging that he accepted promises of compensation from a casino company during his time in public office
INDIANAPOLIS — A former Indiana lawmaker has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge alleging that he accepted promises of lucrative employment from a gaming company during his time in public office, federal prosecutors said Friday.
Sean Eberhart, 57, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, according to court documents filed Thursday. The offense is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release following any imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Eberhart's attorney declined to comment when reached by phone Friday. A plea hearing had not been scheduled for Eberhart as of Friday afternoon, according to court records.
The former Republican state representative represented central Indiana's House District 57 for 16 years before leaving office in November 2022.
He is accused of accepting compensation and the promise of future employment in exchange for favorable action in the General Assembly, prosecutors said.
In late 2018, a company called Spectacle Entertainment sought to purchase two casinos and their accompanying state licenses located on Lake Michigan in Gary, Indiana, and relocate them to locations to downtown Gary and in western Indiana's Vigo County, according to court documents.
The purchases and relocating of casinos requires approval by the Legislature and governor, the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a press release. Multiple phone numbers listed online for Spectacle were disconnected as of Friday.
A bill for the relocation was
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