UPDATE: Wheeler acquitted on 8 charges; convicted on 1 in Iowa Film Office scandal. DES MOINES --- Former Iowa Film Office manager Tom Wheeler was found guilty of helping to falsify documents related to the state's ill-fated film tax-credit program but he did not conspire with filmmakers to defraud the state of millions of dollars, a jury decided Tuesday.
A Polk County jury of nine women and three men deliberated for nearly 16 hours over four days before finding Wheeler, 42, of Indianola, guilty of one count of felonious misconduct in public office in his dealings with Polynation Pictures' application for state film tax credits. However, jurors said Wheeler was not guilty of three other felony counts of misconduct in public office, four felony counts of first-degree fraudulent practices or one felony count of conspiracy that prosecutors had alleged in the three-week trial.
He was acquitted on those eight charges. Wheeler sat facing the judge and showed no emotion while Staskal read the jury's nine verdicts. Wheeler found guilty on one of nine counts. Wheeler: I didn't disclose film producer's fraud case. Criminal charges against former Iowa Film Office manager goes to jury. Jury to resume deliberations in Wheeler trial Friday. Rod Boshart Published: September 2 2011 | 6:22 am - Updated: 2 April 2014 | 10:20 pm in A nine-woman, three-man jury was slated to resume deliberations Friday in the criminal trial of former Iowa Film Office manager Thomas Dean Wheeler.
The Polk County panel spent a full day Thursday reviewing evidence and pondering the nine felony counts of misconduct in office, first-degree fraudulent practices, and conspiracy that prosecutors brought against him in the wake of the ill-fated state film-tax credit fiasco. Wheeler, 42, of Indianola, pleaded not guilty to all nine counts. Rival attorneys spent more than two weeks at trial presenting evidence in the case. The state film tax-credit program -- operated within the state Department of Economic Development – provided a 25 percent tax credit for production expenditures made in Iowa and a 25 percent tax credit for investors for projects that spent at least $100,000 in Iowa until September 2009 when former Gov. Wheeler says he wasn't qualified to... - Google News. Wheeler film office case now in the hands of Polk County jury. It’s now up to 12 Polk County jurors to decide which picture of Tom Wheeler is the correct one – the overworked, under-qualified bureaucrat who tried and failed to get his arms around an exploding Iowa film incentive program or the insider who authorities say reveled in being “the most powerful man in the film business in Iowa” and purposely allowed six crooked producers to fleece the taxpayers.
Jurors left the courtroom to begin deliberations (and their county-provided sack lunches) shortly after 1:30 p.m. today following roughly four hours of closing arguments focused on the nature of deception. Wheeler, the former director of Iowa’s scandal-ridden film office, is charged with nine counts of fraud, conspiracy and felonious misconduct in office. Authorities say he knowingly served as the “inside man” for six filmmakers who inflated costs and lied on budget documents to scam more money from a generous Iowa tax credit program.
Assistant Iowa Attorney General Thomas H. Wheeler: I thought I was prepared but I wasn’t. Tom Wheeler said he wasn’t qualified to run the film tax credit program passed by legislators in 2007.
“I thought I was,” he testified at his own felony trial Monday. “Were you?” His lawyer asked. “No.” Tom Wheeler, former director of the Iowa Film Office, took the stand Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, at his trial. Wheeler’s testimony today means his trial for felony misconduct, conspiracy and fraudulent practices is nearing an end. Wheeler said he did everything from gopher work on animated films to landscaping and film processing before he got his job at the Iowa Film Office in 2004, which paid about $50,000. Two incentive packages at the Legislature failed before the lucrative program was passed by lawmakers in 2007. Wheeler’s testimony continues this afternoon. This morning, the jury heard from witnesses tied to various Iowa productions. Kristina Swanson of Iowa City said she did not consider the “deal memos” she agreed to as part of her work with Washington filmmaker Bruce Elgin unusual.
Iowa files more charges in Iowa film office case. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller on Monday filed criminal charges against four people over a troubled tax-credit program meant to lure moviemakers to the state.
Judge says attorney general can prosecute film office manager case. DES MOINES – A judge has denied the request of former Iowa Film Office manager Thomas Wheeler to disqualify the Iowa Attorney General’s Office from prosecuting his case.
Wheeler is facing a charge of non-felonious misconduct in office. Prosecutors allege he failed to the check the eligibility of an applicant for state film tax credits. Six state employees have lost their jobs or resigned after problems in the state’s film tax credit program came to light, and two filmmakers are facing theft charges for allegedly obtaining $1.85 million in tax credits for their movie by fraudulent means.
Wheeler claimed the attorney general’s office had a conflict of interest by prosecuting him and defending the state in a lawsuit related to the state’s film tax credit program. Wheeler’s lawyer also argued that the attorney general’s office provides legal services to the Iowa Department of Economic Development, which oversees the film office where Wheeler worked. District Associate Judge Gregory D. “Mr. Polk Co Trial Info-T.D. Wheeler. Capitol Digest 4-25-2011.