Former Indiana Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to Fraud in Casino Corruption Case Involving Spectacle Entertainment

Sean Eberhart, former Republican state representative, faces up to five years in prison for accepting promises of future employment and compensation from Spectacle Entertainment in exchange for favorable legislative action, including the successful relocation of two casinos and significant reduction of a proposed transfer fee.

Former Indiana state representative Sean Eberhart has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Eberhart is accused of accepting compensation and promises of future employment from Spectacle Entertainment in exchange for favorable legislative action, including the successful relocation of two casinos and significant reduction of a proposed transfer fee.
Spectacle Entertainment sought to purchase two casinos and their accompanying state licenses located on Lake Michigan in Gary, Indiana, and relocate them to downtown Gary and western Indiana's Vigo County.
Eberhart used his position to advocate and vote for the successful passage of the bill on terms favorable to Spectacle, including the successful relocation approval, reducing the transfer fee from $100 million to $20 million, and enacting tax incentives that would benefit Spectacle.
In exchange for his actions, Eberhart accepted the promise of future employment at Spectacle, which included annual compensation of at least $350,000.

U.S. Department of Justice