A former Indiana casino executive has pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return in a scheme to funnel cash to a political action committee associated with the Marion County Republican Party.
The Indianapolis Star reports that John Keeler’s guilty plea Monday came just one hour before his federal trial was scheduled to begin in Indianapolis. His co-defendant, former state Sen. Brent Waltz, pleaded guilty a week earlier to federal charges for receiving about $40,000 in illegal campaign contributions for his unsuccessful 2016 congressional campaign.
Prosecutors agreed to drop five other counts against Keeler, a former top executive of Indianapolis-based Spectacle Entertainment, as part of his plea agreement. He will be required to pay restitution of $14,350.