Former Bloomington Arena Manager Facing Jail For Misdemeanor Theft

Former BMI Concessions President John Butler is facing 90 days of jail time to be served at home after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge.  Several other charges were dropped in the plea deal connected with Butler’s alleged involvement in a multi-year fraud scheme at Bloomington’s publicly owned arena then named the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.  Butler said two former employees were behind the embezzlement, but he should have known the scheme was happening.  He will also have to pay over 430-thousand dollars to the city of Bloomington and nearly 20-thousand to the Illinois Department of Revenue.  The company has pled guilty to felony theft in excess of ten-thousand dollars.