Prosecutor reviewing campaign donations

Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A Marion County judge on Monday named a special prosecutor to investigate whether political donations by the former head of bankrupt Conseco Inc. violated state law intended to curb the influence of gambling interests.

Stephen Hilbert helped found the Carmel-based insurance-and-finance company, but was ousted as chief executive in April 2000 after piling up $8 billion in debt that eventually led Conseco to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December.

When Hilbert was in charge, Conseco held interests in the Argosy riverboat casino in Lawrenceburg and the Hoosier Park horse racing track in Anderson.

Conseco sold those interests in 2001, and Hilbert began making campaign contributions to state political figures that year, WTHR reported.

The donations included $1,000 contributions to Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi. A $19,000 contribution also went to the Indiana Republican State Central Committee.

State law bars anyone with at least a 1 percent interest in a gambling venture from making political contributions. The prohibition extends for three years after a gambling interest is sold, or a gambling license expires.

Hilbert, who now heads a business consulting company in Indianapolis, said he did not do anything wrong and was unaware of the 3-year restriction.