Ex-Casino GC Suspended From Practicing Law in Indiana After Tax Fraud Plea
John Keeler pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return in connection with a scheme to funnel illegal casino cash into a congressional campaign in 2016.
June 15, 2022 at 02:37 PM
2 minute read
Indiana State House, which houses the Indiana Supreme Court, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Credit: Aeypix/Shutterstock
Former vice president and general counsel of the gaming company New Centaur LLC, John Keeler, has been suspended from practicing law in the state of Indiana, after he pleaded guilty to tax fraud in April.
Keeler pleaded guilty on April 18 to one count of filing a false tax return in connection with a scheme to funnel illegal casino cash into a congressional campaign in 2016. Keeler was found guilty of causing the filing of a false tax return, and the Indiana Supreme Court issued an order of interim suspension on June 9, with immediate effect.
New Centaur, which did business as Centaur Gaming, owned two casinos in the state before selling them to Caesars Entertainment Corp. in 2017 for $1.7 billion.
Keeler, who was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1977, can no longer practice law in the state, nor can he represent clients or maintain a presence in an office where the practice of law is conducted. Additionally, he is required to file a suspension notice in every pending matter for which he is expected to appear and must notify his clients.
According to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Keeler funneled $41,000 in New Centaur corporate funds to Maryland-based political consultant Kelley Rogers and an entity under Rogers' control. Rogers then contributed the funds to the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee to benefit the Marion County Republican Central Committee. Keeler later had New Centaur falsely report the political contribution to the IRS as a deductible business expense, court records revealed.
According to the Supreme Court's order, the interim suspension will continue until further order or final resolution of any resulting disciplinary action, but online records do not list any other disciplinary actions against Keeler.
Former Indiana Republican state senator and congressional candidate Brent Waltz was also charged in the case. Both men entered guilty pleas to avoid a federal trial.
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