Court Rejects Brent Waltz’s Appeal to Overturn Casino Campaign Conviction

Federal Judge Denies Waltz’s Request to Overturn Sentence

Brent Waltz, a former Indiana State Senator, has lost his bid to overturn the federal prison sentence he received related to illegal campaign contributions from casino funds. The Chief Judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana dismissed Waltz’s motion, bringing to a close a prolonged legal effort to challenge the ten-month prison sentence and probation imposed on him.

Background of the Case and Waltz’s Conviction

Waltz, aged 52, was indicted in 2020 and subsequently convicted in 2022 for channeling tens of thousands of dollars from casino sources into his congressional campaign. In addition, he was found guilty of making false statements during the investigation. Waltz served nearly six months in a Kentucky prison and completed the remainder of his sentence under home confinement and at a halfway house.

Waltz Vows to Continue the Legal Battle

Following his release, Waltz sought to overturn his plea agreement, arguing that his previous legal counsel provided inadequate advice and failed to clearly explain the consequences of accepting the plea, including the likelihood of incarceration. However, Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II dismissed these claims, stating that they did not justify rescinding the plea deal or sentence.

Expressing his disappointment at the ruling, Waltz criticized the judge and declared his intention to keep fighting to restore his reputation. He emphasized his commitment by stating that he would continue to challenge what he believes to be an unjust loss of constitutional rights for the rest of his life if necessary.

Details of the Illegal Campaign Financing Scheme

The underlying issues trace back to Waltz’s unsuccessful 2016 congressional run in Indiana’s 9th District. A federal grand jury charged him with breaching campaign finance laws by collaborating with political consultant Kelley Rogers to funnel contributions from an Indiana casino company, New Centaur Inc., circumventing legal limits on campaign donations.

The money was purportedly diverted via fraudulent contracts and then funneled back to friends and family members to cover campaign donations made in Waltz’s favor. Waltz acknowledged that he pressured Rogers to expedite fundraising efforts to strengthen his campaign’s financial standing but maintains he was unaware of the illegal aspects of the fundraising scheme. Furthermore, he claims Rogers never directly implicated him in the wrongdoing.