Former West Terre Haute police chief faces maximum 10-years in prison

WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A former West Terre Haute Police chief faces possibly 10-years in prison on corruption charges.

For more than a year the Federal Bureau of Investigations has been building a case against former West Terre Haute police Chief Mark Arnold.

Thursday Arnold pleaded guilty to lying to a federal firearms dealer.

At a press conference Friday, United State Attorney Joe Hogsett stated Mark Arnold purchased 26-guns from a federal firearms dealer in Danville, Illinois.

Arnold used public funds to purchase the guns and allegedly he told the federal firearms dealer he was purchasing the guns for the police department.

But Arnold later admitted to the FBI the guns were resold or transferred.

"I might not be in a position today to tell you where the guns are but I can tell you where they are not and that is where they were intended to be sent in the first place and that is the West Terre Haute police department,” said Hogsett.

Hogsett says since the investigation is on-going he can't say how much money was taken but due to tips from outside sources, the FBI was able to build a case against Arnold.

Hogsett could not comment on whether any former West Terre Haute Police officers are being investigated but he did suggest if anyone has bought a gun from Arnold, they should contact the United States Attorney’s Public Corruption Hotline at (317) 229-2443.

Arnold faces a maximum of 10-years in prison; his sentencing will take place sometime after the first of the year.