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| Dennis Tyler, Mayor of Muncie, Ind., Indicted on Theft of Government Funds | Dennis Tyler, Mayor of Muncie, Ind., Indicted on Theft of Government Funds |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| The mayor of Muncie, Ind., was indicted on Monday on a charge of accepting illegal cash payments, bringing to a head a multiyear federal investigation of corruption allegations that have engulfed his administration. | The mayor of Muncie, Ind., was indicted on Monday on a charge of accepting illegal cash payments, bringing to a head a multiyear federal investigation of corruption allegations that have engulfed his administration. |
| The mayor, Dennis Tyler, 76, is accused of using his influence to award lucrative contracts and accepting $5,000 from Tracy Barton, the former superintendent of sewer maintenance and engineering for the Muncie Sanitary District, according to a federal indictment. If convicted, Mr. Tyler could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. | The mayor, Dennis Tyler, 76, is accused of using his influence to award lucrative contracts and accepting $5,000 from Tracy Barton, the former superintendent of sewer maintenance and engineering for the Muncie Sanitary District, according to a federal indictment. If convicted, Mr. Tyler could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. |
| Mr. Barton was indicted last year by the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Indiana on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, falsification of documents in a federal investigation and witness tampering. | Mr. Barton was indicted last year by the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Indiana on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, falsification of documents in a federal investigation and witness tampering. |
| F.B.I. agents arrested Mr. Tyler at his home on Monday morning, according to an F.B.I. spokeswoman. Mr. Tyler appeared in a federal courthouse in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon and pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler. Mr. Tyler’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. A lawyer for Mr. Barton, Michael J. Donahoe, declined to comment on Tuesday. | |
| The arrest followed years of investigations, beginning in 2016, that looked into allegations of wrongdoing in and around Mr. Tyler’s administration. | The arrest followed years of investigations, beginning in 2016, that looked into allegations of wrongdoing in and around Mr. Tyler’s administration. |
| In 2017, F.B.I. investigators searched the city’s offices. In January of this year, the city’s former building commissioner, Craig Nichols, was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. And in July, Muncie’s sanitary district administrator, Debra Grigsby, was indicted on charges of wire fraud and other crimes, accused of using her authority to steer public projects to companies in exchange for kickbacks. | In 2017, F.B.I. investigators searched the city’s offices. In January of this year, the city’s former building commissioner, Craig Nichols, was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. And in July, Muncie’s sanitary district administrator, Debra Grigsby, was indicted on charges of wire fraud and other crimes, accused of using her authority to steer public projects to companies in exchange for kickbacks. |
| “Public officials are entrusted to perform a public service and to legitimately conduct business in the best interest of the community that they represent,” Mr. Minkler said in a statement on Monday. “Tyler not only betrayed the trust of his community, but violated federal law, and all in an effort to serve his own personal interests. My office intends to prosecute Tyler to the full extent of the law.” | “Public officials are entrusted to perform a public service and to legitimately conduct business in the best interest of the community that they represent,” Mr. Minkler said in a statement on Monday. “Tyler not only betrayed the trust of his community, but violated federal law, and all in an effort to serve his own personal interests. My office intends to prosecute Tyler to the full extent of the law.” |
| In January, Mr. Tyler, a Democrat, announced that he would not seek re-election for a third term. His term ends on Dec. 31. | In January, Mr. Tyler, a Democrat, announced that he would not seek re-election for a third term. His term ends on Dec. 31. |
| “At 76 years old, I’m at a place in my life where I want to spend more quality time with my wife, my children and my grandchildren,” Mr. Tyler said at the time, according to The Star Press, a newspaper in Muncie. | “At 76 years old, I’m at a place in my life where I want to spend more quality time with my wife, my children and my grandchildren,” Mr. Tyler said at the time, according to The Star Press, a newspaper in Muncie. |
| Asked if the F.B.I. investigation in the city had any influence on his decision not to run again, he said, “none whatsoever,” according to the paper. | Asked if the F.B.I. investigation in the city had any influence on his decision not to run again, he said, “none whatsoever,” according to the paper. |
| City officials said in interviews on Monday that they were “surprised” and did not know why Mr. Tyler had been arrested. | City officials said in interviews on Monday that they were “surprised” and did not know why Mr. Tyler had been arrested. |
| “I was shocked myself,” Councilman Doug Marshall said. “You always hear the rumors, but I never expected the mayor to get arrested.” | “I was shocked myself,” Councilman Doug Marshall said. “You always hear the rumors, but I never expected the mayor to get arrested.” |
| Councilman Jerry Dishman also expressed shock at the mayor’s arrest. Both officials said council members would meet soon to discuss a way forward. “We will do what needs to be done,” Mr. Marshall said. | Councilman Jerry Dishman also expressed shock at the mayor’s arrest. Both officials said council members would meet soon to discuss a way forward. “We will do what needs to be done,” Mr. Marshall said. |
| Councilman Brad Polk said the news of Mr. Tyler’s arrest was “disappointing.” | Councilman Brad Polk said the news of Mr. Tyler’s arrest was “disappointing.” |
| “The citizens elect people and put their trust in them,” Mr. Polk said. “It’s a black eye, that’s for sure. It doesn’t make the city look very good even though we are hard working and 99.9 percent of us do good every day.” | “The citizens elect people and put their trust in them,” Mr. Polk said. “It’s a black eye, that’s for sure. It doesn’t make the city look very good even though we are hard working and 99.9 percent of us do good every day.” |
| In an interview on Monday, Sarah Beach, the city’s personnel director and information coordinator, described her reaction as “utter disbelief,” adding, “It’s a sad day.” She said she had worked with Mr. Tyler for eight years. “Personally, I have a high regard for him,” she said. | In an interview on Monday, Sarah Beach, the city’s personnel director and information coordinator, described her reaction as “utter disbelief,” adding, “It’s a sad day.” She said she had worked with Mr. Tyler for eight years. “Personally, I have a high regard for him,” she said. |
| She added that it was difficult for her to make any further comment until more details were released. “We are just here doing our job and trying to keep the city moving and awaiting to get more information,” she said. | She added that it was difficult for her to make any further comment until more details were released. “We are just here doing our job and trying to keep the city moving and awaiting to get more information,” she said. |
| Mr. Tyler grew up in Muncie, a city of about 68,500 residents in East Central Indiana, roughly 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis. He graduated from Muncie Central High School and was a line captain for the Muncie Fire Department before retiring after 42 years of service. | |
| He became mayor in 2012 after serving as a state representative for six years. | He became mayor in 2012 after serving as a state representative for six years. |
| During his time as mayor, he reopened two fire stations, restarted summer programs in the city parks and repaved more than 179 roads, according to his office’s website. He also endorsed programs supporting people with autism and developmental disabilities. | During his time as mayor, he reopened two fire stations, restarted summer programs in the city parks and repaved more than 179 roads, according to his office’s website. He also endorsed programs supporting people with autism and developmental disabilities. |
| He is set to be succeeded as mayor by Dan Ridenour, a Republican who was elected this month. Mr. Ridenour reacted to the news of the arrest by looking to the future. | He is set to be succeeded as mayor by Dan Ridenour, a Republican who was elected this month. Mr. Ridenour reacted to the news of the arrest by looking to the future. |
| “Today, we have learned of another arrest by the F.B.I. in their ongoing investigation of Muncie city government,” Mr. Ridenour said in a statement Monday. “While this has become a pattern in our community of late, I am pleased that two weeks ago voters overwhelmingly supported turning the page for a new day in Muncie.” | “Today, we have learned of another arrest by the F.B.I. in their ongoing investigation of Muncie city government,” Mr. Ridenour said in a statement Monday. “While this has become a pattern in our community of late, I am pleased that two weeks ago voters overwhelmingly supported turning the page for a new day in Muncie.” |