Former Senator Pleads Guilty in Casino Contributions Case
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Former Indiana Senator Brent Waltz pleaded guilty to taking illegal contributions from a casino company during his unsuccessful congressional campaign. He admitted to providing false statements to the FBI. The other defendant in the case is a former leading executive at Spectacle Entertainment, John Keeler, who has pleaded not guilty.
The original indictment of Waltz and Keeler came in September 2020 following an extensive investigation by the FBI into Spectacle Entertainment. Spectacles Entertainment was forced to give up its ownership of new casino projects in Terre Haute and Gary. The commission also made allegations of financial misconduct against the former Spectacular Entertainment CEO Rod Ratcliff. He surrendered his state casino license but did not get charged as part of the campaign finance case.
Brent Waltz is facing a prison sentence of five years for two felony charges related to illegal contributions to his campaign. He is also facing three other counts that were dismissed. Walten served as a state senator for a dozen years before he decided to run for Congress.
