UPDATE: Muncie Mayor Indicted on Theft Charge
Dennis Tyler has been Muncie mayor since 2012.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMUNCIE, Ind. – Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler has been charged with one count of theft of government funds, following his arrest Monday morning by FBI agents, according to our partners at WISH-TV.
An unsealed indictment states Tyler allegedly accepted $5,000 from Tracy Barton via an unnamed third party in exchange for awarding contracts to that person’s business.
Barton was Muncie’s Superintendent of Sewer Maintenance and Engineering for the Muncie Sanitary District.
Tyler was arrested Monday morning at his home by federal agents and placed into custody.
Tyler, a Democrat, did not run for reelection this year amd has served in that position since 2012.
The Star Press newspaper in Muncie is reporting the FBI referred all other questions concerning Tyler’s arrest to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Indianapolis. Federal authorities reportedly made no other arrests in Muncie on Monday.
Muncie and the Tyler administration have been undergoing a federal investigation of corruption allegations for four years.
The Star Press reports the probe apparently began in early 2016 with allegations against Craig Nichols, at that time Tyler’s building commissioner.
Last January, Nichols pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to two years in federal prison, according to the publication.
Click here to read the Star Press coverage.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Check back here and on WISHTV.com for continuing updates.