Published on: February 16, 2026, at 07:30h.
Updated on: February 16, 2026, at 07:30h.
- Waltz’s motion to overturn prison sentence denied
- Investigations linked to Centaur casinos and $40,500 contributions
- Probe casts shadow on Hard Rock Northern Indiana project
A federal judge has turned down a request from former Indiana state Senator Brent Waltz (R) to reverse his prison sentence for illegally channeling casino funds into his unsuccessful 2016 congressional run.
Chief U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II has now put an end to one of the Midwest’s most notable political scandals connected to gambling.
In a decision made on February 9, Sweeney dismissed Waltz’s request to vacate his guilty plea and the associated 10-month imprisonment sentence. Waltz contended that he accepted the plea based on misguided legal advice and claimed he did not comprehend the likelihood of incarceration.
The conviction of Waltz was based on dubious payments orchestrated by John Keeler, a former state senator who served as general counsel and vice president at Centaur Gaming.
At the time, Centaur operated the Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville and Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson.
Financial Maneuvers
In 2022, Keeler pleaded guilty to enabling the submission of a fraudulent tax return related to a scheme which transferred $41,000 from Centaur Gaming to a political consultant for Waltz’s campaign.
Keeler further directed the consultant to allocate $25,000 to the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee.
It is illegal under federal law for corporations to directly contribute to federal election campaigns. This payment was inaccurately categorized as a legitimate business expense in Centaur Gaming’s tax documentation for that year.
As part of his plea arrangement, Waltz sidestepped trial on additional charges, which could have led to a longer sentence.
He eventually served roughly six months in federal prison in Kentucky, completing the remainder of his 10-month term in a halfway house and under home confinement. Additionally, he was subjected to two years of supervised release.
Claiming Lack of Awareness
In his push to overturn the conviction, Waltz argued that his previous attorney did not adequately explain the federal sentencing guidelines, particularly how the monetary amount of the illegal contributions could affect sentencing.
He stated that had he understood the potential for imprisonment, he would have opted not to plead guilty.
Judge Sweeney refuted this, pointing out that Waltz had affirmed under oath during the plea hearing that he had reviewed the agreement with his lawyer and comprehended that the sentencing guidelines were advisory and not obligatory.
The judge also declined to grant a certificate of appealability, restricting Waltz’s options for further review.
Waltz Expresses Frustration
In an interview with the Daily Journal after the ruling, Waltz lashed out at the judge, asserting his innocence despite prior court admissions.
“Judge Sweeney, I don’t hold him in very high regard,” Waltz expressed to the newspaper. “I am living proof that one’s constitutional rights can be unjustly stripped away.”
Waltz further remarked to the Daily Journal that it “seems fundamentally wrong that a single individual can have the final say on such matters without the chance to appeal to a higher court.”
A Difficult Situation
In 2018, Caesars Entertainment acquired Centaur’s racetracks, while Centaur CEO Rod Ratcliff established Spectacle Entertainment, taking John Keeler along.
Spectacle purchased the Majestic Star Casino and aimed to relocate its two licenses to create new casinos in Gary, Indiana (in collaboration with Hard Rock) and Terre Haute, Indiana.
Shortly after the Gary project commenced, the Indiana Gaming Commission initiated an investigation into the illegal campaign donations. As a result, Ratcliff and Keeler were removed, and Spectacle ended up with a minority stake in what is now the Hard Rock Northern Indiana.