The Plowman Exit
Editor’s note: The following blog post is based on a number of interviews involving multiple sources, some of which were questioned by the FBI, over the past five weeks involving the case of former IMPD officer and City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman. In exchange for the information, I promised not to identify any individual I spoke with. However, many of them confirmed information given to me by others, and none of them had any knowledge of who I interviewed.
Two of the big questions surrounding the resignation of IMPD Officer and City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman involve the words “what” and “why”? What was the nature of the federal investigation that led him to step down from his posts? Was there a violation of IMPD policy? Did it involve his activities as a Councilor, a police officer, private citizen? Why did he resign instead of stand and fight? All legitimate questions, and for the first time, I think there are answers. Note neither Plowman nor his attorney are talking about this. Let’s go.
My sources tell me in late September/early October, Plowman was approached by an acquaintance regarding zoning for a business proposition. He told him about an out-of-state developer who wanted to build an adult entertainment establishment in Indianapolis and needed someone who understood zoning and could get things done. The acquaintance, who was actually a police informant, connected the out-of-state developer, who turned out to be an FBI informant, with Plowman.
The two met a number of times, my sources tell me, however after researching city zoning laws, they realized there were only a handful of few places where project could go up and one spot was in Decatur Township. These types of establishments need to receive a zoning variance or be zoned IC-4, which I’m told is some of the heaviest industrial zoning in the city. My sources says a few more weeks of calls and inquiries went by and no money changed hands.
As time dragged on and more inquiries were made, sources say Plowman and the out-of-state developer looked at hiring a commercial real estate attorney to see if anything could be done to find zoning in Marion County that would fit this establishment. At no time, my sources say, did Plowman do any sort of background check on the developer.
The two would go out some evenings and engage in what some might label “bar talk” about the project, however the entire time the developer, my sources say, was wearing a wire. A couple times, actually unbeknownst to the FBI, the developer would give Plowman a hundred bucks or so for the night out. That information came as a surprise to the agents who were conducting the sting, because they found that out during one of the interviews that it had happened.
More time goes by, more research is done, more “bar talk” takes place, but still no money has changed hands. However, it all comes to a head, my sources say, in late December where there is a meeting between the developer and Plowman downtown in a hotel. They talk about where the project is going, and according to my sources, Plowman tells the developer, that given the amount of consulting time that he has already invested in the project, if he wants to go forward, it will cost him $5,000 for consulting fees. At that point, my sources tell me, the developer takes out an envelope of cash, gives it to Plowman, and walks out of the room. It’s at that point where the FBI comes in and tells him he’s been under surveillance and has been videotaped. He is never arrested, but he is questioned about his activities. Shortly after questioning, the agents, according my sources, start asking Plowman what he knows about embattled financier Tim Durham as well as other elected officials. These same questions are also asked to a number of witnesses. Plowman is then let go.
Over the next few weeks the agents, one of which has been transferred to Chicago, question a number of witnesses about Plowman. The questions included: has he ever tried to influence a city board member to vote a certain way; has he ever taken money for votes; has he ever taken money or pulled strings to get a liquor license granted? The agents, as I mentioned in the above paragraph also ask some witnesses about Durham and other Marion County elected officials.
When I called the FBI for official comment, they gave me the standard, “we can neither confirm nor deny any investigation”.
As far as I can tell from talking to some legal authorities, if the government goes forward with its case, it could try to prosecute Plowman under what’s known as The Hobbs Act. The Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce, thus the “out-of-state” developer. The law was originally intended to go after union racketeering, but has also been used in public corruption cases. Particulary when a public official uses his or her position to extort or coerce money from an individual.
As far as IMPD goes, my theory is Plowman would have been likely been disciplined under the provision that forbids merit rank officers from holding outside employment. While Plowman could have continued his leave of absence without pay pending the outcome of the investigation, he doesn’t have the financial resources to sustain his family without income, hence his retirement from the department where he can at least draw from his retirement pension.
Now the big question, is Plowman guilty? Of bad judgment and not using his head?From what I’ve gathered, definitely! If someone came to me out of nowhere whom I didn’t know and started engaging in a lot of big talk about how he was going to build an adult entertainment business and he heard I was his go to guy, I’d probably start asking for references. Is he guilty of the Hobbs Act? To be honest I’m not sure. There’s information floating around that neither I nor my sources have been privy to. And as these conversations were likely recorded, who knows each and every word that was said over the course of four-month long investigation?
For now, it is what it is and we’ll have to wait and see how the rest pans out. At least now, we have some perspective.
