Former Shelbyville business owner and state representative Sean Eberhart has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for his role in advancing legislation in 2019 that benefited an Indiana casino. In exchange, Eberhart was guaranteed a future job with the company with a six-figure salary.
Eberhart, age 58, also was fined $25,000 Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Matthew Brockman and will serve one year of probation after being released from prison.
The former state representative served Shelby County and portions of Bartholomew and Hancock counties for 16 years before leaving office in 2022.
Brookman cited the breaking of public trust in elected officials when determining Eberhart’s sentence which could have been up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
"The criminal's former constituents, and all Hoosiers, rightfully expect elected officials to act on the public's behalf, and not to line their own pockets. Legislation must not be for sale to the highest bidder, especially when they have such a tremendous impact on our state and its economy," said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, in a media release. "Public office is a public trust, and those who break that trust by taking bribes will be identified and held accountable. The federal prison sentence imposed today demonstrates our office's commitment to root out public corruption at all levels of government and uphold the law regardless offenders' status or position."
Eberhart pleaded guilty on Nov. 28 to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. He helped Spectacle Entertainment, who purchased two casinos in northern Indiana, with the process to relocate them to new locations in Gary and Terre Haute.
Eberhart was a member of the House Committee on Public Policy at the time of the purchase. The committee had jurisdiction over casino and gaming matters in Indiana. According to court records, Spectacle Entertainment offered Eberhart a future job with an annual salary of $350,000 if he helped with voting to approve the casino relocations.
The sentencing of one year and one day in federal prison makes Eberhart eligible for good-time credit that could reduce his overall time served. He also has agreed to pay $60,000 in restitution to the state.
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