5 ex-managers of Bloomington arena indicted on 111 counts

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - Five former managers of Bloomington's city-owned arena have been indicted on a total 111 counts including money laundering and wire fraud.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that a McLean County grand jury returned the indictments Wednesday and they were unsealed Monday after the five defendants posted bond. The charges come after an 18-month investigation into alleged mismanagement at what was then known as U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

The five people indicted worked for Central Illinois Arena Management, which managed the arena until April 2016. They are charged with stealing city funds, money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy, filing false sales tax returns and conspiracy to commit tax evasion.

Management company president John Butler faces 44 counts, including theft of government funds. His attorney didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

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Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com