Clifford D. Johnson, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana
Jerome Prince, former Mayor of Gary, Indiana, has been sentenced for wire fraud. The sentencing was delivered by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon following Prince's guilty plea to charges related to the misuse of campaign funds.
Documents reveal that during his tenure from 2020 to 2023, Prince unlawfully utilized approximately $26,750 from his campaign committee funds to finance the purchase of a personal residence.
United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson stated, "By entering into a plea agreement to the criminal Information, former Mayor Prince demonstrated that he accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct." He further emphasized the importance of individuals accepting responsibility for their crimes and expressed gratitude towards the FBI for their investigation.
FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton remarked on the significance of holding public officials accountable: "Serving the public as mayor is a privilege, not an opportunity to exploit the position for personal gain. This sentence should send a clear message that public officials who betray the trust of their communities will be held accountable for their actions."
The United States Attorney's Office encourages anyone with information about public corruption in Northern Indiana to contact them or the FBI in Merrillville.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted this case's investigation, and it was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin F. Wolff and Philip C. Benson.