Indianapolis -
Former Perry Township Deputy Constable Michael Sherfick has signed a plea agreement with the Department of Justice to cooperate with federal agents investigating political corruption in Indianapolis.
Sherfick will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and admit to accepting more than $30,000 in bribes to provide deputy constable badges, identification cards and parking placards to local business people. A two-year-long Fox 59 News investigation has revealed that Sherfick played a significant role as a political fundraiser for republican Constable Roy Houchins and was well aquainted with campaign fundraising operations throughout Marion County.
The plea agreement, signed earlier this month and filed November 24th, stipulates that Sherfick will serve no more than five years in a federal prison if he fully cooperates with investigators.
His plea agreement was filed the same day that FBI agents raided the offices of millionaire financier Tim Durham who played a significant role in financially supporting the republican party in central Indiana. The U.S. Attorney has also filed a civil lawsuit against Durham, claiming he ran his Ohio-based Fair Finance Comapany as a Ponzi scheme -- raising money from new investors to pay off previous investors with no intention of investing those recent funds.
The raid on Durham's offices has already had a significant ripple effect throughout Indiana politics. Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi issued a statement distancing himself from his close friend and main fundraiser. GOP sheriff's candidate Tim Motsinger dropped out of the race after it was revealed Durham loaned his campaign $200,000.
When Sherfick is interviewed by FBI agents, it is expected that he will be questioned about a wide range of topics pertaining to, not only the operation of the Perry Township's Constable's office, but also political fundraising that resulted from the bribes allegedly paid to that office.
Sherfick will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and admit to accepting more than $30,000 in bribes to provide deputy constable badges, identification cards and parking placards to local business people. A two-year-long Fox 59 News investigation has revealed that Sherfick played a significant role as a political fundraiser for republican Constable Roy Houchins and was well aquainted with campaign fundraising operations throughout Marion County.
The plea agreement, signed earlier this month and filed November 24th, stipulates that Sherfick will serve no more than five years in a federal prison if he fully cooperates with investigators.
His plea agreement was filed the same day that FBI agents raided the offices of millionaire financier Tim Durham who played a significant role in financially supporting the republican party in central Indiana. The U.S. Attorney has also filed a civil lawsuit against Durham, claiming he ran his Ohio-based Fair Finance Comapany as a Ponzi scheme -- raising money from new investors to pay off previous investors with no intention of investing those recent funds.
The raid on Durham's offices has already had a significant ripple effect throughout Indiana politics. Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi issued a statement distancing himself from his close friend and main fundraiser. GOP sheriff's candidate Tim Motsinger dropped out of the race after it was revealed Durham loaned his campaign $200,000.
When Sherfick is interviewed by FBI agents, it is expected that he will be questioned about a wide range of topics pertaining to, not only the operation of the Perry Township's Constable's office, but also political fundraising that resulted from the bribes allegedly paid to that office.
