Feds: Suburban Indianapolis utility CEO embezzled $500,000

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a suburban Indianapolis man has agreed to plead guilty to embezzling more than $500,000 from a utility where he was chief executive officer.

They say 55-year-old Donnis Mizelle of Avon defrauded Hendricks Power Cooperative by siphoning funds from the utility's expense account. They say that since at least 2009, Mizelle submitted dozens of fraudulent expense reports that disguised personal expenses as business expenses. They paid for items including personal vacations, jewelry, electronics, tickets to sporting events and meals.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Linder says Mizelle will formally plead guilty at a future court hearing and faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine and a restitution order.

Mizelle's home telephone number was disconnected and he could not be reached for comment.