Senator Todd Young today released the following statement after President Donald Trump’s speech in Indianapolis outlining the details of his tax reform plan.

“President Trump made a convincing case today that this tax reform package will boost the economy and increase the take-home pay of every Hoosier. For the first time in 30 years, the prospects for a simpler tax code that lowers taxes for the working class and provides relief for small business owners looks good. Let’s seize this opportunity and deliver on our promises to the American people.”

While traveling with President Trump on Air Force 1, Senator Young also spoke with President Trump about the need for key infrastructure investments in Indiana, including Northwest Indiana’s South Shore double-tracking project and West Lake Corridor project. Senator Young said the following about that conversation.

“President Trump knows we need to make a significant investment in America’s infrastructure and he was receptive to the case I made for rail projects in Northern Indiana, locks and dams to move our home-grown goods, and rural broadband to keep Indiana connected to the world. I’m excited to work with the President on this issue and optimistic that we will get bipartisan support in Congress.”

Indiana Conservation Officers have been investigating Brownsburg Taxidermy located in Brownsburg, IN for the past year and a half.    

The owner of the business, Kevin McGrotty allegedly collected thousands of dollars from his clients and has guaranteed his clients completed work, but has failed to do the work he has promised. 

In all, Kevin has collected over four thousand dollars from sixteen victims that have called in and complained. 

Mr. McGrotty is being charged with sixteen counts of Theft and one count of Corrupt Business Practices (Level 5 Felony).  Mr. McGrotty’s taxidermist license has been revoked as a result of this investigation.
 
On Sept 26 Indiana Conservation Officers and Hendricks County Sheriff’s detectives served arrest and search warrants on Mr. McGrotty and his Taxidermy business.  Officers seized hides, mounts and antlers of customers that had paid Mr. McGrotty to complete taxidermy work on, but had never received their completed work.
 
Mr. McGrotty still has several hundred other hides, specimens and antlers he has yet to complete the taxidermy work on.  The involved agencies are asking for the patience of those individuals who still have property at Brownsburg Taxidermy.  All of the articles in the shop will need to be inventoried and recorded.  Customers will be notified when they will be able to recover their property.
 
The charges filed against Mr. McGrotty are merely allegations. Under the Constitution of Indiana and the United States Mr. McGrotty is innocent of these allegations and will remain so unless or until they are proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court of law.
 

Oil and gas scheme spanned 9 states, victimizing 10 investors for 3 million dollars

After a four year investigation by Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson’s office and a two and half year prosecution by Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson, 15 people have been convicted of securities related charges. The investigation began when oil and gas investments in Earth Energy Exploration attracted the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

When the FBI shifted attention to other related cases, the Secretary of State’s office was notified and assumed the case. Sifting through bank accounts and a number of investor complaints, the office was able to piece together the framework of a massive criminal enterprise.

The scheme began in 2007, when David Rose, founded Earth Energy Exploration, Inc., which offered investments in oil exploration and production companies. Rose hired employees to make cold calls to potential victims. Once an individual showed some interest, a closer would take over the call to get the victim to agree to invest and send money. The money was not invested as promised. Instead, it was used for the personal expenses of Earth Energy Exploration employees and laundered into related businesses.

“It took my team years to uncover the true nature of the scheme,” said Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson. “This was homegrown organized crime that spread through 9 states with a base in New Albany, Indiana. The convoluted scheme used Wyoming as a mail drop and Indiana as a base for calls, with investors stretching from Pennsylvania to Texas. With so many intricate details, this was not an easy case to prosecute. I appreciate Prosecutor Henderson’s leadership and dedication to pursuing justice for victims.”

Rose and his partners made several unusual attempts to increase their income, including the creation of an adult film organization that they would push to potential oil exploration investors. When these ventures sagged, they sent employees to Las Vegas to try and recoup losses through gambling, which backfired.

“This was a massive amount of information to sift through and a tremendous amount of credit goes to Charlie Williams and the entire Secretary of State investigative team,” said Floyd County Prosecutor Henderson. “I am pleased we were able to get convictions on all 15 defendants.

“This case should serve as a reminder that all potential investors should call the Secretary of State’s office to verify an investment advisor and the investment are registered and that potential defendants who want to prey on investors should be aware they will be prosecuted and held accountable.” 

In addition to the Secretary of State’s office and the Floyd County Prosecutor, the Secret Service, and the FBI helped with this case. Thanks to the work of numerous members of law enforcement agencies, this scheme has come to a halt, leading to the arrest and convictions of those involved.

The names and sentences of those prosecuted in this case are below in alphabetical order.

• Thomas Berry provided assistance to Brian Rose and pled guilty to corrupt business influence. Berry was sentenced to 4 years, 1.5 to be served in prison and 2.5 on probation.
• David Brown was a sales closer and pled guilty to aiding the sale of unregistered securities. Brown was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
• Richard Collins was a sales closer and pled guilty to aiding the sale of unregistered securities.  Collins was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
• Bruce Fox was a president of Earth Energy Exploration, Inc. and pled guilty to securities fraud and the sale of an unregistered security.  Fox was sentenced to 6 years in prison and returned $5000 to victims.
• Brent Loveall acted as a sales closer and pled guilty to acting as an unregistered broker-dealer.  Loveall was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
• Robert McGregor was a sales closer and pled guilty to the sale of unregistered securities.  McGregor was sentenced to 4 years with 18 months of probation.
• Keith Mohney was a CPA and the Earth Energy Exploration, Inc. tax preparer.  He pled guilty to aiding the sale of unregistered securities. Mohney was sentenced to 4 years with 4 years of probation.
• Colin Purcell pled guilty to aiding securities fraud.  Purcell was sentenced to 3 years with 3 years of probation and returned $5000 to victims.
• Brian Rose, an owner of Earth Energy Exploration, Inc, pled guilty to securities fraud and corrupt business influence.  Brian Rose was sentenced to 8 years in prison with 2 years’ probation and returned $25,000 to victims.
• David Rose, who was a leader of the scheme, pled guilty to securities fraud and was sentenced to 8 years, 4 of which will be executed in prison.
• Hugh Sackett was a sales consultant and pled guilty to aiding the sale of unregistered securities. Sackett was sentenced to 4 years in prison with 2 years of probation and returned $6000 to victims.
• Jeffery Smith laundered money for Brian Rose and pled guilty to conversion. He was sentenced to 1 year and returned $1000 to victims.
• Jason Towe was a sales closer and a president of Earth Energy Exploration, Inc, he pled guilty to corrupt business influence. Towe was sentenced to 4 years with 4 years of probation and returned $15,000 to victims.
• Mandy Ward-Rose ran a small pornography company and wrote investment paperwork for Earth Energy Exploration, Inc.  She pled guilty to theft and was sentenced to 3 years, while returning $22,000 to victims.
• Michael Wood was a president of an Earth Energy Exploration, Inc affiliate company and pled guilty to aiding the sale of unregistered securities.  Wood was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Governor Eric Holcomb has declared September 24-30, 2017 as Indiana Rail Safety Week in conjunction with U.S. Rail Safety Week that will take place in all 50 states. Our goal is to increase rail safety awareness by working together on national rail safety week. Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Transportation, local law enforcement and railroad companies have partnered together to raise awareness about the dangers of disregarding railroad crossing laws and trespassing on railroad property.

“Train versus car collisions are completely preventable,” states Jessica Feder, Executive Director, Indiana Operation Lifesaver.  “Indiana law enforcement agencies and railroad special agents will be out monitoring railroad crossings and checking for trespassers during rail safety week. We want the public to know how important it is to pay attention at railroad crossings and that trespassing on railroad tracks and property is dangerous and illegal.” 

Indiana Operation Lifesaver has scheduled numerous enforcement blitzes throughout the state involving law enforcement agencies. There will also be PSA’s throughout the state, safety information distributed at college campuses, booths at statewide festivals and events, social media campaigns, messages on the INDOT dynamic highway signs, banners on train locomotives and “See Tracks? Think Train!” signs at crossings where multiple train versus vehicle collisions have occurred. Indiana Operation Lifesaver is taking a proactive lead in the elimination of crossing collisions and trespasser fatalities.

In 2016, there were 116 railroad crossing collisions resulting in 36 people injured and 10 fatalities in the state of Indiana. Indiana is currently ranked 4th nationally for railroad crossing collisions. The Hoosier State had seven trespasser deaths last year as well as 12 injuries. 

“We are constantly striving to improve our statistics with both crossing collisions and trespasser incidents,” said Jessica Feder. “We encourage everyone to take these warning devices seriously and pay attention at all railroad crossings. It’s the law and it could save your life!”

Indiana Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade intersections and on railroad rights-of-way through public education, engineering and enforcement.  To learn more about Indiana Operation Lifesaver, please visit us online at www.oli.org or call 812-528-4327.

A New Castle man was shot and fatally wounded by police this morning after he shot a New Castle Officer in the chest.  The events started around 4:13 a.m. when New Castle Officers responded to the area of “K” Ave. and Columbus St., just west of Main St., to a report of a man breaking into cars.

When two New Castle Officers arrived they found the suspect, Jarred Burke, age 24 of New Castle, and he refused to stop, attempting to flee on a bicycle.  A Police K-9 was released and it apprehended the suspect behind a church at 1741 Columbus St. As officers ran up to call off the dog and apprehend Burke, he pulled out a handgun and fired a shot at close range into the chest of one of the officers. The officer returned fire hitting Burke.

Medical attention was immediately summoned to the scene, with the officer and suspect both being taken to Henry Community Health Hospital, where Jarred Burke later succumbed to his injuries. The officer was treated for a non-life threatening injury, as it is believed the protective vest worn by the officer prevented a possibly fatal wound. The name of the officers involved will be released at a later time.

This release was prepared for the Henry County Major Investigations Team at the request of Henry County Prosecutor Joe Bergacs. That team, which is used to investigate major crimes in Henry County, consists of officers from the Indiana State Police, Henry County Sheriff’s Department and the New Castle Police Department.  Please refer any questions to Henry County Prosecutor Joe Bergacs.

Interstate 65 South at the 17 Mile Marker has the left lane open for traffic.

Motorists are urged to use caution when travelling through the area due to the right lane remaining closed for cleanup.

The right lane of the roadway in that area will remain closed for several hours as the cleanup from this morning’s fire continues.