Former Indiana Lawmaker Sentenced to Year and a Day in Prison in Casino Corruption Case

Former Indiana state Rep. Sean Eberhart leaves a hearing at the federal courthouse in Indianapolis last November. He was sentenced Wednesday to more than a year in prison for his corruption in getting a casino operator favorable legislation. (Image: Isabella Volmert / Associated Press)

Former Indiana State Representative Sean Eberhart was sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison on Wednesday after he agreed to support legislation wanted by a casino operator in exchange for a high-paying job.

Eberhart will also serve one year of probation after release and will pay a $25,000 fine as a part of his sentence.

Eberhart Used Position to Push for Casino Relocation, Tax Breaks

While Eberhart had hoped to receive only probation and avoid jail time, US District Court Judge Matthew Brookman instead sided with prosecutors in sentencing, saying that Eberhart had violated the public trust that is needed in elected officials.

“You threw that away,” Brookman said during sentencing. “That makes this an extremely serious offense.”

Eberhart served for 16 years as the Republican representative for Indiana House District 57 – which covers Shelby County and parts of Bartholomew and Hancock Counties. He left office in November 2022.

The case involved legislation requested by a company known as Spectacle Entertainment. In 2018, Spectacle purchased two casinos located on Lake Michigan in Gary, Indiana. Spectacle wanted to move the Indiana casinos, placing one in downtown Gary and another in Vigo County. 

That required the state legislature to pass a bill allowing those relocations. At the time, Eberhart was on the House Committee on Public Policy, a committee that oversees casinos and gambling in the state among other responsibilities. 

According to prosecutors, Eberhart used his position to push for the legislation and obtain favorable terms for Spectacle, such as an $80 million reduction in its licensing fees and millions of dollars in additional tax breaks. However, he did so in exchange for the promise of a future job that would pay him at least $350,000 per year with the company. Lawmakers eventually passed a bill that authorized the casino relocations in 2019.

Eberhart pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud in November 2023.  Eberhart also agreed to pay $60,000 – equal to his annual salary as a state representative – in restitution as a part of his plea agreement.

No Charges for Spectacle Executive

Court records don’t identify the Spectacle executive who allegedly conspired with Eberhart by offering him the job. However, the description of the individual matches that of Spectacle creator Rod Ratcliff, according to the Indianapolis Star. 

Ratcliff has not been charged with any crimes in this case, though it isn’t his first tie to an instance of political corruption. He was also identified as a conspirator in a case in which casino executive John Keeler was sentenced for illegally funneling gambling money into former Indiana State Senator Brent Waltz’s unsuccessful 2016 congressional campaign. 

Ratcliff was not charged with crimes in that case, either. However, he did agree to give up his ownership stake in Indiana casinos and relinquish his state casino license in 2021. Hard Rock would take over ownership of Spectacle’s Gary casino that year.

Eberhart has not yet reported to prison to begin serving his term. The additional day added to Eberhart’s sentence was likely tacked on to make him eligible for a good-time credit that could reduce his time served by up to 15 percent, an option only available on sentences of over one year. 

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