Former Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler has begun serving his federal prison sentence in West Virginia.
A Federal Bureau of Prisons database lists Tyler as an inmate at FCI Morgantown. It does not list the date when he was admitted.
Morgantown is a minimum security facility with more than 400 inmates, according to the agency. Popular culture has nicknamed the prison “Club Fed” because of its perks like a movie theater and basketball court. As of now, visitations at Morgantown have been suspended due to COVID-19.
In November, a federal judge sentenced Tyler to one year and one day in prison for pleading guilty in federal court to taking a $5,000 bribe to steer city work to a specific contractor.
According to court documents, during a taped phone call with another Muncie official cooperating with authorities, Tyler had little recollection of receiving the bribe money. He said he “probably” used it to pay bills – both his and for others with outstanding sewer and electric bills.
Tyler served eight years as Muncie’s mayor. He will also have three years supervised release when his prison term is over.
