Bloomington, Ill. — Former BMI Concessions President John Butler has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge in McLean County court.
At one time, Butler was the general manager of the Peoria Chiefs, assistant athletic director at Bradley University and an executive for the Peoria Rivermen hockey team.
Butler’s Linked In profile still lists him as a co-owner of the Rivermen.
The theft occurred while BMI Consessions was in charge of the then U.S. Cellular Center in Bloomington, which is a publicly-held facility.
Butler was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which he will serve at home, and was ordered to pay over $430,000 to the City of Bloomington and nearly $20,000 to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
BMI Concessions, LLC, also pleaded guilty to a class 1 felony of theft in excess to $10,000.
Butler said two former employees were behind the embezzlement and he was unaware they were stealing money.
Butler did acknowledge that as president of the company he should have known what was going on.
Other charges against Butler were dropped in the case as part of his plea deal.
