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Last updated on Thursday, September 15, 2011
(INDIANAPOLIS) - A former Indianapolis city- county councilor has been convicted by a federal jury of extortion and bribery.
The jury believed the prosecution's case that Lincoln Plowman used his position in the city to influence the development of a strip club downtown.
In closing statements, federal prosecutors argued Plowman is guilty of bribery and extortion. They say Plowman knew he wasn't really working as a consultant when he took five-thousand-dollars in cash and a one-thousand-dollar campaign contribution from a strip club developer who was actually an undercover FBI agent.
They argue Plowman used his influence as a metro police officer and councilman to secure a one-thousand-dollar a month security gig at PTS Show Club. They say that's a job he kept secret from IMPD. They also say Plowman further abused his position by representing PTS interests on the smoking ban issue.
They say his abuse of power continued from August through December 2009 when he wheeled and dealed with the undercover agent and spoke about "schmoozing" and wining and dining zoning board members. Prosceutors say it was all an effort to influence the outcome of a development deal for a high-end strip club in downtown Indianapolis.
Meantime, Plowman's attorney Jim Voyles says it was government deception that got plowman into trouble. Voyles argues that Plowman was indeed a consultant and stated so numerous times. He also says Plowman did nothing wrong by taking zoning board members out to dinner.
He adds Plowman had no sinister motive in trying to bring what he believed was a legitimate development deal to Indianapolis.
If convicted by the jury of both bribery and extortion, plowman could get up to 30 years and $500,000 in fines.
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