Judge Allows Beavers' Gambling Losses At Trial

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 30, 2012 10:22PM

William Beavers

U.S. Assistant Attorney Matthew Getter said that comparing checks Beavers cashed from his campaign fund with his frequent visits to Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. with a spreadsheet of his gambling losses will allow jurors to see a timeline of Beavers using his campaign cash for personal use, without paying the appropriate taxes on the cash.

Zagel ruled Beavers can tell the jury about repaying campaign funds for personal use only if he testifies about his state of mind, but cannot tell the jury he repaid campaign funds after he learned of the investigation.

Beavers is accused of borrowing over $225,000 from his campaign fund for personal expenses without reporting the money as income. Beavers has steadfastly proclaimed his innocence and has said federal authorities are targeting him because he wouldn’t wear a wire against fellow County Commissioner John Daley.