Five Arrested for Felonies Related to US Cellular Coliseum

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Published on September 25 2017 5:34 pm
Last Updated on September 25 2017 5:34 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Officials with the Illinois State Police (ISP) have arrested five people for multiple felony offenses related to the management of the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.

Arrested were John Butler, age 58 of Bloomington; Bart Rogers, age 47 of Morton; Kelly Klein, age 57 of Bloomington; Jay Laesch, age 27 of Heyworth; and Paul Grazar, age 50 of Normal. The arrests occurred on Monday, and stem from a year-and-ahalf investigation conducted by the ISP and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR).

In May of 2016 the ISP was contacted regarding alleged mismanagement of funds at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The ISP, along with the IDOR, conducted a thorough investigation and presented their findings to the McLean County State's Attorney. This past Wednesday, a grand jury convened and signed indictments on the five suspects. The charges are as follows:

--Butler and Laesch were both charged with Theft of Government Funds, Money Laundering, Tax Evasion, Tax Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Tax Evasion.

--Grazar was charged with Theft of Government Funds, Money Laundering, Tax Evasion, and Conspiracy to Commit Tax Evasion.

--Klein was charged with Theft of Government Funds and Money Laundering.

--Rogers was charged with Theft of Government Funds.

This is still an ongoing investigation and no further information is currently available.