Democrat Indiana Mayor Dennis Tyler Arrested By FBI In Federal Corruption Probe

And from Fox News:

Muncie, Ind., Mayor Dennis Tyler -- a Democrat nearing the end of his second term in office -- was arrested Monday by the FBI as part of a sprawling public corruption probe that has snared several officials in his administration.

The indictment charged Tyler, 76, with one count of theft of government funds, Fox 59 Indianapolis reported.

Prosecutors alleged he accepted $5,000 from a sanitation department official named Tracy Barton in exchange for using his influence in the awarding of contracts, according to the station.

The charge would carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

Tyler appeared in court Monday and was released after a "not guilty" plea was entered.

Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler accused Tyler of breaking the public's trust in elected officials.

"When people in positions of public trust choose to line their pockets at the expense of the very people they serve, the costs can be massive," Minkler said. "To be clear, I'm not talking about just simply accepting $5,000 in cash. I'm first talking about a loss of trust. In a democracy, people believe that those they elect serve them first, not themselves."

Earlier, FBI Indiana spokeswoman Chris Bavender told Fox News that Tyler was arrested at his home at 7:30 a.m. local time.

“I can confirm an arrest warrant was executed at the home of Mayor Dennis Tyler this morning and he is currently in custody,” she said.

Tyler was elected mayor in 2011. He didn't run for reelection this year.

The FBI raided City Hall offices in 2017 as it investigated Craig Nicholas, a former building commissioner, and the awarding of no-bid contracts to demolition companies he owned, Fox 59 reported.

And from Breitbart:

The Democrat mayor of Muncie, Indiana, was arrested on Monday morning by the FBI in connection with multiple corruption charges.

“I can confirm an arrest warrant was executed at the home of Mayor Dennis Tyler this morning, and he is currently in custody,” Christine Bavender, a spokesperson for the FBI, told the Muncie Star Press.

It is not immediately clear what charges Tyler is facing.

Tyler has served as Muncie’s mayor since 2012, WISH reported. The Democrat mayor did not run for re-election this year and his term in office ends on December 31.

FBI agents have conducted an investigation into allegations of corruption in the Tyler administration and those in Tyler’s orbit for nearly four years.

The FBI investigation began in early 2016 when the agency brought forth allegations against Craig Nichols, the city’s building commissioner. Last January, a judge sentenced Nichols to two years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering.