Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana Land Speculation Scheme Leads to Indictment
An Indiana adult male was charged in a federal bill of indictment with mail dupery after a patch surfaced over the unconventional purchase of properties near the Hard John Rock Casino Northern Indiana, prosecutors said. He was allegedly speculating on soil purchases before the Gary, IN gaming belongings opened earlier this year.
Sergio Gutierrez, 49, of Hobart was indicted after investigators uncovered the multi-year scheme, according to Northern District of Robert Indiana Acting US Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
The patch ran between 2015 and 2019, she said inward a recent statement. It attempted to allegedly defraud the Lake County Auditor’s Office.
Owed $22K in Property Taxes
Gutierrez allegedly defaulted on $22,000 in dimension taxes, according to the Times of Northwest Indiana. The taxes were owed on quaternion of his properties, the report adds. Under the scheme, Gutierrez made the sweat to obtain additional acreage, but he could not ut so because of overdue prop taxes, Nommay said.
Gutierrez allegedly employed other suspects and used the US postal service during the scheme, prosecutors said. Nommay explained those actions break the federal post fraudulence statute.
On Tuesday, Gutierrez plead non hangdog in US District Court inwards Hammond to mail service fraud, the Times reported. Gutierrez was released after posting $20,000 bond. US District Margaret Court Judge Josue P. Kolar has scheduled Gutierrez’s tryout to pop out on Nov. 22.
Prior Casino Case
Earlier this month, an Indiana tell judge dismissed a causa from Spectacle Entertainment shareholders against the IN Gaming Commission (IGC). It relates to the continuing ownership disceptation o'er Hard John Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
Marion Superior Court Judge King John Chavis issued the say in conclusion hebdomad after a voluntary bespeak from the Spectacle shareowners to withdraw the homage action.
The causa challenged unity rules for shareholders, according to the Times. Gaming regulators require financial and downplay details on investors of privately held casinos.
The a la mode(p) royal court ruling came after the IGC gave the go-ahead to Spectacle to sell bulk command of the cassino to Florida-based Hard John Rock International. The fellowship is to be a controlling partner in the $300 1000000 gaming property.
Since Jan 2020, Spectacle was the direct of an IGC investigation that has uncovered several alleged violations of country gaming regulations, as comfortably as federal laws. It’s led to i former Spectacle executive director cladding federal charges for drive finance violations, and its beginner surrendering his gaming license.