May 21, 2013
Cory SchoutenA federal public-corruption task force used a wire tap and an undercover FBI agent to unravel a fraud scheme authorities say
was orchestrated by two city employees and three co-conspirators.
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May 20, 2013
IBJ Staff and Associated PressPaul C. Bateman Jr. had pleaded guilty in January to his part in defrauding an Indianapolis physician of $1.7 million.
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May 15, 2013
IBJ StaffGeorge Bowman, 43, and Traci L. Bowman, 42, are accused of falsifying purchase records and fraudulently filing insurance claims
for expensive construction equipment they never purchased.
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May 14, 2013
IBJ StaffMichael Russell, 54, pleaded guilty in January to 20 counts of wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme involving former
Indianapolis City-County Councilor Paul Bateman.
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May 10, 2013
IBJ StaffShela Amos, 57, led victims in Indianapolis to believe they were legitimately purchasing vacant homes that Amos did not actually
own.
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May 3, 2013
Dave StaffordAfter being charged with defrauding clients, Indianapolis attorney William Conour was ordered not to dispose of his personal
property. But much of it is now missing, including art, furniture, sports memorabilia and bottles of expensive champagne,
according to court filings.
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April 30, 2013
J.K. WallDespite her dramatic pleas to a federal judge on Tuesday, Dina Wein Reis, who defrauded corporations out of millions of dollars,
will go to prison.
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April 23, 2013
Associated PressAn Ohio man has admitted to defrauding more than $225,000 from contractors involved in FBI building projects in Indianapolis
and Knoxville, Tenn.
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April 16, 2013
Associated PressThe four individuals received more than $30,000 in jobless benefits while working at an IRS call center in Indianapolis.
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March 31, 2013
Associated PressBrenda K. Helpling was sentenced Thursday by a federal judge who also ordered her to pay more than $410,000 in restitution
to Frakes Engineering. The 52-year-old had pleaded guilty in November to mail fraud.
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March 28, 2013
Associated PressU.S. District Judge Mark Bennett issued the 97-month prison term to Lowell Hancher of Hamilton County. The Sheridan businessman
pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.
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March 22, 2013
A Fishers man has been charged with wire fraud in an alleged scheme to defraud area organizations and businesses of hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
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March 21, 2013
Associated PressFormer Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White said in court documents Thursday that his attorney didn't mount any defense
to protect him from the conviction that forced him from office.
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February 15, 2013
Cory SchoutenManuel Gonzalez has been acquitted of three counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering in connection with a
scheme that targeted an Indianapolis physician. Former City-County Councilor Paul Bateman pleaded guilty last month to participating
in the scheme.
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February 11, 2013
Cory SchoutenAn Indianapolis physician who lost $1.7 million in a fraud scheme orchestrated in part by former Democratic City-County Councilor
Paul C. Bateman Jr. has sued Bateman and two associates in Marion Circuit Court. The civil lawsuit comes as a criminal trial
stemming from the case begins in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
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February 7, 2013
Cory SchoutenDuring three hours of closing arguments Wednesday in the federal fraud trial of real estate broker John M. Bales and William
E. Spencer, a federal prosecutor and two top-tier Indianapolis defense attorneys delivered a series of memorable one-liners
and rhetorical flourishes designed to stick with jurors.
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February 6, 2013
Scott OlsonDon Marsh finally got off the hot seat Wednesday afternoon after his former company wrapped up nearly two days of questioning,
but he didn't stay off the witness stand for long.
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February 5, 2013
Cory SchoutenFederal prosecutors rested their fraud case against John M. Bales and partner William E. Spencer on Monday after a full day
of testimony from FBI Special Agent Brian Percival that included several references to former Marion County Prosecutor Carl
Brizzi.
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February 4, 2013
Scott OlsonThe lead lawyer for Marsh Supermarkets Inc. expects to call Don Marsh as its first witness when the civil trial against him
reconvenes Tuesday. The grocery chain alleges that the former CEO used company funds to pay more than $3 million in personal
expenses.
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January 28, 2013
Cory SchoutenThe federal fraud trial of Indianapolis real estate broker John M. Bales and a partner began Monday morning in South Bend
with a jury-selection process that may not have run as smoothly if it took place in central Indiana.
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January 26, 2013
Cory SchoutenThe jury trial in South Bend for real estate developer John Bales and his general counsel, William E. Spencer, is scheduled
to begin Jan. 28 and last up to two weeks. Bales and Spencer, both 45, are facing 13 counts, including wire and mail fraud.
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December 26, 2012

The state's labor landscape changed, and the housing market improved. Indianapolis basked in the glow of
a flawless Super Bowl, and big-name CEOs were shown the door.
IBJ's reporters and editors recall the year's
biggest stories.
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December 19, 2012
Associated PressOfficials say Denise Abrell defrauded the Country Club of Indianapolis of $400,000 by writing checks to herself and using
the club's credit card without its knowledge.
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December 7, 2012
Scott OlsonDonald R. Fair, the former owner of Fair Finance Co. who sold the business to fraudsters Tim Durham and James Cochran, agreed
to the settlement Thursday.
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November 30, 2012
Greg Andrews, Scott Olson, Cory SchoutenFormer Indianapolis businessman Tim Durham was sentenced to 50 years in prison for running a Ponzi scheme that led to the
collapse of Fair Finance, costing thousands of investors $250 million. Accomplices Jim Cochran and Rick Snow received 25 years
and 10 years, respectively.
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So the Mayor adds another non value added layer to having a vehicle towed? Whereby the City Government RECIEVES AN ILLEGAL KICKBACK FROM A LGOISTICS COMPANY THAT SUBS THE WORK TO LOCAL TOW COMPANIES? What is the service the City performs for receiving the "tribute"? This is RICO!!!!! What a corrupt and unnecessary layer. What a dirtbag Mayor and his cronies.
Owner occupied housing. Clear enough?
So people think I am paranoid. It's from experience in dealing with puds requested by developers who make major donations themselves to representatives, have nice fund raisers for those running for office and hide through pac's. then there are the public relation firms. You will note some pr comments below. You there Clyde Lee? My opinion. Commercial along 421, great. Multifamily housing, terrible idea that will change the town. Senior condos or zero lot line homes west, great. I suggest keeping all entries to commercial areas at 421. All entries to owner occupied on sycamore. Will keep the traffic on sycamore down some. Two other things. You can't trust what will be there in 10 years. Steve builds quality stuff, but areas change over time. Look at the changes at the wall mart center at 86th and 421 over the last 10 years. Look at the apartments and neighborhoods behind St Vincent's. Raintree properties WILL decrease in value if commercial and multifamily goes in near. It has already been happening around the bridges area. The houses that have been sold recently are way below market. Several deals not closed due to the Illinois construction and the whole unsurety of the bridges. It's pretty simple, Zionsville will approve the whole thing because the city council has been groomed over a LONG period of time for this. I might even suggest some are in their position as a result of this.
Esta, do you have a dog in this fight? You seem to really want to knock anyone against this project. No, I didn't move to Indiana for the architecture. I moved here for that red barn in the field. The horses and fields of corn. A place that is NOT overdeveloped. There are plenty of nearby places in Indianapolis that could be REDEVELOPED instead.
RKW - OK, we get it, you're paranoid. The question is, are you paranoid enough? Greg - Yes, Pittman(s) is (are) at it again. They are developers, they build things. It's what they do. So when you go to work tomorrow, Greg, you're at it again too. Cliff - Really? You moved to Indiana for its progressive architecture? That's like moving to England for the cuisine. Zionsvillain - The house you moved to was once a field or woods. I'm willing to bet folks were upset when that ground was plowed under and a house was built. But I guess now that you are in, everything should stop? "My house was OK, but the next one is sprawl." SE Guy - Please don't paint us with such a wide brush. Most reasonable Zionsville residents welcome planned, measured development.