Two Indiana men plead guilty Monday to federal crimes for their roles in paying and receiving secret political contributions through a middleman, federal officials stated.
A former Indianapolis-based casino executive plead guilty to causing false statements on the casino’s corporate tax return by concealing contributions to a local political party as deductible business expenses.
Additionally, a 2016 candidate for U.S. Congress, charged in the same indictment, pleaded guilty last week to making and receiving illegal conduit contributions through sham donors and making false statements to the FBI.
According to court documents, John Keeler, 72, of Indianapolis, former vice president and general counsel of gaming company New Centaur LLC, funneled $41,000 in New Centaur corporate funds to Maryland-based political consultant Kelley Rogers and an entity under his control.
This purpose was to contribute the funds to the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee to benefit the Marion County Republican Central Committee.
Keeler then caused New Centaur to falsely report the political contribution to the IRS as a deductible business expense.
In addition, Darryl Brent Waltz, 48, of Greenwood, a former Indiana State Senator and 2016 candidate for U.S. Congress, pleaded guilty last week to funneling $40,500 in illegal conduit contributions to his 2016 congressional campaign.
Waltz and Rogers directed corporate funds from New Centaur into the Brent Waltz for Congress campaign through several straw contributors and through Waltz himself, according to officials.
Waltz also lied to and misled federal authorities who were investigating the illegal contributions.
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. Waltz faces up to 10 years in prison and Keeler faces up to three years in prison.
FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the cases.