{{Short description|American politician}} {{Update|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Dennis Tyler | image = | office1 = 33rd Mayor of Muncie, Indiana | term_start1 = January 1, 2012 | term_end1 = January 1, 2020 | predecessor1 = Sharon McShurley | successor1 = Dan Ridenour | state2 = Indiana | state_house2 = Indiana | district2 = 34th | term_start2 = December 30, 2005 | term_end2 = December 28, 2011 | preceded2 = R. Tiny Adams | succeeded2 = Michael White | party = Democratic | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|12|4}} | birth_place = Muncie, Indiana, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = | occupation = Politician | spouse = Vickie Tyler }}
'''Dennis Tyler''' (born December 4, 1942) is a former American politician who served as the mayor of Muncie, Indiana. On November 18, 2019, he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and charged with theft of government funds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fox59.com/2019/11/18/fbi-agents-arrest-muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler/ |title=FBI arrests Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler on theft of government funds charge |work=Fox59 News |date=November 18, 2019 |accessdate=November 18, 2019}}</ref> He was sentenced on November 10, 2021, to one year and one day, his mayoral term having expired on January 1, 2020. He was released from prison in April 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2019/11/19/tyler-trial-set-january-but-delay-seems-likely/4238317002/ |title=Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler's trial set for January, but delay seems likely |newspaper=Muncie Star Press |first=Douglas |last=Walker |date=November 19, 2019 |accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>
== Career == Tyler grew up on the south side of Muncie and is a graduate of Muncie Central High School. He served as a Line Captain for the Muncie Fire Department before retiring after 42 years of service. On January 4, 2006, he was sworn into office as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, elected as the Democratic Party candidate. He represented District 34 for six years. Tyler served on committees that focused on veteran's affairs, public safety, employment labor, pensions, roads, transportation, autism, and government reform.
During his tenure in the House, Tyler was an advocate for victims of violent crimes, introducing legislation that in the absence of a will, no share of a deceased person's estate should go to a parent convicted of killing the other parent. Tyler resigned from the Legislature in December 2011 to assume the duties of Mayor, effective January 1, 2012.
Tyler and his administration re-opened two fire stations, consolidated animal control, re-initiated summer programming in the parks, graded more than 30 lane miles of roads and 70 alleys, presented more than 50 proclamations, received almost $8 million in grants, and announced nearly 100 new jobs and over $3.2 million in new payroll, representing over $30 million in new capital investment.
Tyler has been active in many community organizations, including United Way, the Knights of Pythias, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He has been the Chairman of the Labor and Industry Board of the NAACP since 2010.
Tyler did not run for re-election in 2019, and at year-end was succeeded by Republican Dan Ridenour, a member of the Muncie City Council and financial officer.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2019/01/11/mayor-announces-he-not-running-2019/2548423002/ |title=Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler announces he is not running in 2019 |last=Ohlenkamp |first=Corey |newspaper=Muncie Star Press |date=January 11, 2019 |access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/muncie-election/2019/11/05/dan-ridenour-cruises-muncie-mayoral-win/4155263002/ |title=Dan Ridenour cruises to mayoral win in 2019 election |last=Ohlenkamp |first=Corey |newspaper=Muncie Star Press |date=November 5, 2019 |access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref>
== Arrest == On November 18, 2019, Tyler was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at his home, based upon corruption allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-18 |title=Southern District of Indiana {{!}} Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler Indicted on Corruption-Related Charge {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler-indicted-corruption-related-charge |access-date=2025-11-10 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> The federal probe revealed bid-rigging, mail and wire fraud, fraudulent bids, money laundering, and other organized crime schemes that drained the city of funds. Six others were previously arrested as part of the probe into Tyler's administration, including his appointed building commissioner, Craig Nichols.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2019/11/18/muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler-arrested-by-fbi-agents/4227206002/ |title=Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler arrested by FBI agents |newspaper=Muncie Star Press |first1=Douglas |last1=Walker |first2=Corey |last2=Ohlenkamp |date=November 18, 2019 |accessdate=November 18, 2019}}</ref> Prior to his arrest, Tyler and his administration had been under investigation by the FBI and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana since 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/us/muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler.html|title=F.B.I. Arrests Dennis Tyler, Mayor of Muncie, Indiana|last=Dahir|first=Abdi Latif|date=November 18, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 18, 2019|last2=Diaz|first2=Johnny}}</ref> Tyler is expected to stand trial on August 10, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2020/02/03/ex-muncie-mayor-tylers-theft-trial-rescheduled-august/4642730002/|title=Ex-Muncie Mayor Tyler's theft trial rescheduled for August|last=Walker|first=Douglas|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-29}}</ref> He was represented by famed Indiana attorney James H. Voyles Jr.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Douglas |title='Lawyer of the stars' to defend Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler |url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2019/12/03/lawyer-stars-defend-muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler-arrested-fbi-indiana/2596226001/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=The Star Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
Tyler and federal prosecutors struck a deal in May 2021 to plead guilty to one count of theft of government funds. He was condemned to one year and one day in jail in November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2022 |title=Ex-Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler leaves federal prison after bribe conviction |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/ex-muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler-leaves-federal-prison-after-bribe-conviction/531-4539a410-2749-4aa3-8587-81151cd3b744 |access-date= |website=wthr |language=en-US}}</ref> He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and forced to pay $15,250 in restitution.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dahir |first=Abdi Latif |last2=Diaz |first2=Johnny |date=2019-11-18 |title=Dennis Tyler, Mayor of Muncie, Ind., Indicted on Theft of Government Funds |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/us/muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler.html |access-date=2023-08-31 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-10 |title=Southern District of Indiana {{!}} Former Muncie Mayor Convicted and Sentenced on Corruption Charges {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/former-muncie-mayor-convicted-and-sentenced-corruption-charges |access-date=2025-11-10 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> In April, 2022 he was released from federal prison after serving more than five months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Douglas |title=Ex-Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler leaves West Virginia prison after 5 months in theft case |url=https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2022/06/07/ex-muncie-mayor-dennis-tyler-released-federal-prison-theft-conviction/7541800001/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=The Star Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20191209124812/http://www.cityofmuncie.com/muncie-mayor-office.htm Office of the Mayor, City of Muncie, Indiana] Official website (archived) *[http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=59181 Project Vote Smart - Representative Dennis Tyler (IN)] profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyler, Dennis}} Category:Democratic Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:Mayors of Muncie, Indiana Category:21st-century mayors of places in Indiana Category:21st-century members of the Indiana General Assembly