The Fiesta Bowl has been under new management in the aftermath of an investigation into improper political campaign contributions and other financial misconduct made by the bowl, but the bowl’s old CEO, John Junker, has long been awaiting his legal fate as a result of that investigation.
That wait looks like it’s coming to an end.
The Arizona Republic reports that Junker has reached a plea bargain with prosecutors and is expected to plead guilty on Tuesday to a felony for soliciting campaign contributions from bowl employees and reimbursing them with bowl funds. Defense attorney Stephen Dichter said Junker will plead guilty to a Class 4 felony in the state case (the federal case has not been heard yet) and a conviction on that charge would land Junker 2 ½ years in prison. Probation is a possibility, though.
The plea deal comes before any indictments were issued.
The Fiesta Bowl’s Chief Operating Offer, Natalie Wisneski, will, however, be facing federal charges of filing false income tax returns after she was indicted in November. Wisneski resigned from her post shortly after Junker was fired in the wake of the scandal.
The A 276-page report issued by the bowl upon the completion of the investigation “apparent scheme” to reimburse bowl employees by over $46,000 for their contributions to politicians. The report also found ”an apparent conspiracy to conceal the reimbursement scheme from the bowl’s Board of Directors and state officials.”
The bowl later asked politicians who were close to the bowl to return any contributions they received, which has proven to be a largely unsuccessful task. So far, no politicians have been charged in the case as many claimed they didn’t know the bowl was illegally reimbursing contributors.
The Fiesta Bowl managed to keep its BCS status with no further punishment beyond a $1 million fine following the result of the investigation.
