Monday, May 20, 2013
Bateman Sentenced To More Than Two Years For Role In Russell Foundation Fraud
Former Indianapolis City-County Councilor Paul Bateman received a 27-month sentence by a federal district court judge today for his admitted role in a scheme to defraud a wealthy Indianapolis physician out of millions of dollars the physician contributed to the Russell Foundation. Bateman's co-conspirator, Michael Russell, last week received a sentence of four years and nine months. The other co-defendant who refused to plead guilty to the charges brought by U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett's office, Manuel Gonzalez, was acquitted of the charges for his role in the scheme. The investor was lured to invest nearly $2 million into the Russell Foundation with the understanding the money would be used to develop rail and ethanol-related economic ventures in Indiana. In actuality, the men spent the money on themselves, buying expensive vehicles, clothing and jewelry. Bateman becomes the second Indianapolis City-County Councilor to be convicted on federal charges in recent years that resulted in a federal prison sentence. Lincoln Plowman was convicted of bribery and attempted extortion charges and is currently serving a several year sentence in a federal prison.
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4 comments:
It is certainly possible that if Paul had not pleaded guilty, then like it did Manuel Garcia, a jury might have found him not guilty. I hope his conviction is a learning experience, that he repents, and that Joe Hogsett keeps on prosecuting white collar criminals, of all stripes.
Quick, somebody contact Ripley at "Believe it or Not!"
-A Democrat convicted of corruption in the Southern District of Indiana.
Not much of sentence considering the size of the crime.
The judge tends to go easier on you when you admit the crime and accept responsibility for it after being charged than if you contest the charges. Plus, he had no prior criminal record.
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