Ex-Muncie Building Commissioner Craig Nichols sentenced to two years in federal prison

[TexasTowelie]

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ex-Muncie Building Commissioner Craig Nichols pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Tuesday.

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt said that Nichols "apparently lost his moral compass."

Nichols – who had been the city's building commissioner since Dennis Tyler took office as mayor in January 2012 – was placed on unpaid leave after being arrested in February 2017 on allegations he had violated the law in steering city and Muncie Sanitary District projects to his own businesses, at times also submitting bills for work that was not done.

At first charged with more than 30 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and theft, Nichols struck a plea bargain with federal prosecutors last July that called for him to plead guilty to two of the charges.

Read more: https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2019/01/22/craig-nichols-sentenced-two-years-federal-prison/2641252002/

Federal officials say Nichols defrauded the city of Muncie out of nearly $300,000 by billing for fake house demolitions and inflated asbestos inspections through companies he owned, using his position as building commissioner to do so.

Read more: https://indianapublicradio.org/news/2019/01/muncie-building-commissioner-to-serve-two-years-for-crimes/