A former Fiesta Bowl officer has been indicted for making campaign contributions in someone else’s name and filing false tax returns, among other counts announced Wednesday by the U.S. attorney’s office.
Former Fiesta Bowl Official Indicted Over Contributions, Tax Returns
Natalie Wisneski, the former chief operating officer of the Fiesta Bowl, was also indicted by a federal grand jury for causing false statements to be made to the Federal Elections Commission and for conspiracy.
The nine-count indictment was returned Tuesday and comes eight months after a task force uncovered evidence of serious infractions committed by the Fiesta Bowl.
The scandal cost longtime executive director John Junker his job and prompted the Bowl Championship Series to fine the Fiesta Bowl $1 million, though it was allowed to remain in the BCS and keeps its NCAA license.
Wisneski, 47, is alleged to have used her high-paying job to solicit campaign contributions from bowl employees for federal, state and local candidates and then arranging to reimburse the employees with Fiesta Bowl money.
The indictment says Wisneski, who also lost her job because of the scandal, filed false tax returns after denying that the Fiesta Bowl had any lobbying expenses or political expenditures.
She is the first Fiesta Bowl official to be charged and will be summoned to appear for arraignment on November 30.
For local perspective on the Fiesta Bowl mess, visit SB Nation Arizona.
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