Bateman: “I Didn’t Do Anything Wrong”
Outgoing Indianapolis City-County Councilor Paul Bateman says he did not do anything wrong with respect to an indictment being handed down against him today by a federal grand jury.
The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Bateman, along with two others, is being charged with fraud and money-laundering for allegedly defrauding an elderly Indiana physician out of $1.7 million. RTV 6’s Jack Rinehart first reported on this more than three years ago.
Bateman is accused of eight counts of wire fraud and 10 counts of money-laundering. The other two individuals, Micheal Russell and Manuel Gonzales face similar charges. According the indictment, Bateman and the others used a charity called the Russell Foundation to get the physician to invest in the organization’s “charitable projects.” RTV 6 originally reported the foundation listed its mission as ” trying to develop rail- and ethanol-related economic ventures that benefit minority workers and contractors.” However U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett’s office says money was spent on personal expenses for themselves, friends and family members. The foundation has since then declared bankruptcy and had more than $2.6 million in debt.
I contacted Bateman late Monday via text message to get his reaction. His response was as follows…
“I don’t know why they [are] messing with me. I guess I just have to prove I didn’t do anything wrong I am not that kind of person.“
Each count of wire fraud carries a sentence of 20 years, while the money-laundering charges carry a 10-year sentence.
A news conference is slated for 9:30 this morning at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I will be updating frequently on Twitter. You can follow me at AttyAbdul or IndyPoliticsOrg.
