Bloomington Coliseum's former manager Jay Laesch pled guilty; Money Laundering

BLOOMINGTON, IL (ECWd) -

On November 7, 2018, Jay Laesch, former financial director of Bloomington's US Cellular Coliseum pled guilty to one count of money laundering under $10,000 and filing false tax reports for BMI Concessions, a class 3 felony. BMO Concessions is the former concession managing company for the coliseum where a portion of the sales was supposed to be paid to the city of Bloomington.

His case number, according to McLean County court records is 2017-CF-001026. All other charges against Laesch were not prosecuted.

Others have been indicted in this scheme which defrauded the city of Bloomington, Illinois out of an estimated more than $1 million over a several year period.

Laesch was fined $1 and sentenced to 30 months of probation, with the stipulation that he provide testimony in the trials of the other three people charged.

Local BLN News reporter, Diane Benjamin had written about this alleged theft since at least June of 2014, while the city of Bloomington seemingly ignored the problem. Benjamin had to file a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the city of Bloomington to gain access to the financial records related to these financial transactions.

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