Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler arrested by FBI agents
Two locals were arrested, with four locations being raided by FBI Tuesday afternoon during a corruption investigation into the Muncie City government. Muncie Star PressMUNCIE, Ind. – Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler was arrested Monday by FBI agents at his northside home.
'I can confirm an arrest warrant was executed at the home of Mayor Dennis Tyler this morning and he is currently in custody," Christine Bavender, a spokesperson for the FBI, told The Star Press.
The doors to the mayor's wing at City Hall, normally open during business hours, were closed about 9 a.m. Monday. A sign that frequently hangs on that door when the offices are closed said, "Out to lunch. Will return shortly."
A federal investigation of allegations of corruption in and near the Tyler administration has been under way for nearly four years.
The probe apparently began in early 2016 with allegations against Craig Nichols, at that time Tyler's building commissioner.
Last January, Nichols pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, and was sentenced to two years in federal prison.
Others charged in the federal corruption probe to date include Nikki Grigsby, the Muncie Sanitary District administrator arrested on bid-rigging allegations in July; Tracy Barton, another MSD official; and local businessmen Jeffrey Burke, Tony Franklin and Rodney Barber.
Bavender referred all other questions concerning Tyler's arrest to the U.S. Attorney's office in Indianapolis. Federal authorities reportedly made no other arrests in Muncie on Monday.
A memo filed by federal prosecutors prior to Craig Nichols' sentencing in January alleged that in the wake of allegations against the building commissioner in 2016, city officials – including Tyler – held meetings at Democratic Headquarters with, among others, the building commissioner's father, longtime party insider Phil Nichols.
That document alleged another Tyler department head, street commissioner Duke Campbell, at some point was recruited to arrange for fraudulent bids to be collected in a bid to spare the younger Nichols from prosecution.
Campbell has not been charged in the investigation.
Tyler's term in office ends Dec. 31.
Last January, he announced he would not seek a third term as mayor. Republican Dan Ridenour this month won the 2019 mayoral race over Democrat Terry Whitt Bailey, Tyler's Community Development director.
Tyler is believed to be the first Muncie mayor arrested while in office in a century. In 1919, Rollin H. Bunch, a Democrat and local physician, resigned from the city's highest office after he was charged – and later convicted – of a federal mail fraud charge.
Bunch, who served a brief prison term, later received a presidential pardon, and was elected to another term as mayor in the 1930s.
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
No comments:
Post a Comment