Former Congressional Candidate Gabe Whitley Sentenced to FCI Terre Haute for Campaign Finance Fraud

Former Indiana Congressional Candidate set to serve 90 days at the FCI Camp in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Indianapolis, IN – Gabriel “Gabe” Whitley, a former Republican congressional candidate for Indiana’s Seventh Congressional District, is set to report to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Camp in Terre Haute on June 20, 2025, to serve a three-month sentence for falsifying campaign finance records. The 27-year-old, who ran under the campaign banner “Honest Gabe for Congress,” admitted to lying to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) about hundreds of thousands of dollars in fictitious contributions and loans to inflate the perceived support for his 2024 primary election campaign.

A Pattern of Deception

Whitley’s legal troubles stem from three fraudulent FEC filings made between October 2023 and April 2024. Court documents reveal that in October 2023, Whitley falsely claimed that 67 individuals—whose names, occupations, employers, and addresses he fabricated—contributed approximately $222,690 to his campaign. In January 2024, he repeated the scheme, reporting additional fake contributions. Finally, in April 2024, Whitley falsely claimed to have loaned his campaign $100,000, a sum he admitted he did not have. In total, around $234,000 of reported contributions never existed, misleading voters about the financial backing and legitimacy of his candidacy.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana emphasized that Whitley’s actions undermined the transparency critical to fair elections. “Gabriel Whitley intentionally created an illusion that he was a legitimate candidate with the financial support of the electorate, denying the public of its most powerful tool for casting informed ballots: transparency,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans added, “This wasn’t a mistake by Mr. Whitley – it was a deliberate effort to deceive the public by violating campaign finance laws for his own gain.”

Sentencing and Courtroom Claims

On April 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II sentenced Whitley to three months in federal prison, a $100 fine, a $100 special assessment fee, and one year of supervised probation following his release. The judge also recommended substance abuse treatment, citing a positive marijuana test in January 2025, as well as mental health evaluation and vocational training. The relatively light sentence—below the six-month maximum—considered Whitley’s lack of prior criminal history, his reported traumatic childhood, and mental health challenges, including autism and ADHD diagnoses.

In court, Whitley claimed he was unaware his filings were fraudulent, alleging a former employer had instructed him to falsify records. However, Judge Sweeney rejected this defense, noting that Whitley “clearly knew there was something not proper” and should have been on notice after earlier campaign finance scrutiny during his 2021–2022 Evansville mayoral campaign. The judge emphasized that the prison term would serve as a deterrent to others considering similar violations.

A History of Controversy

Whitley’s campaign finance issues are not new. During his short-lived 2021–2022 Evansville mayoral campaign, The Evansville Courier & Press reported that Whitley documented thousands of dollars in contributions from donors who denied ever giving him money. Whitley claimed an unnamed political consulting firm solicited these donations via email, but his filings showed no such expenditures, raising suspicions of fraud. Indiana’s Election Division dismissed related complaints at the time, but these earlier allegations resurfaced during Whitley’s federal case, with Judge Sweeney noting they should have alerted Whitley to the seriousness of accurate reporting.

Political Ambitions and Public Reaction

Whitley, originally from Fresno, California, moved to Evansville, Indiana, in 2017 and later to Indianapolis. A former precinct committeeman and chairman of the Young Conservatives of Southern Indiana, he positioned himself as a passionate advocate for issues like constitutional carry and opposing critical race theory. Despite his grassroots efforts, Whitley’s 2024 congressional bid ended in defeat, garnering only 13% of the vote in a four-person GOP primary.

In a Facebook statement following his guilty plea, Whitley framed his conviction as “political persecution,” comparing himself to figures like Martha Stewart and General Michael Flynn. He announced his withdrawal from politics, stating, “The political establishment saw me as a threat and sought to sideline me.” During his sentencing hearing, Whitley expressed regret and a desire to move on, saying, “I am embarrassed to be here today. I take full responsibility for my crimes, and I deeply regret the harm caused by my actions.”

Broader Implications

Whitley’s case highlights the importance of transparency in campaign finance, a cornerstone of democratic integrity. His falsified reports misled voters about the strength of his campaign, potentially influencing perceptions of his viability as a candidate. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office underscored their commitment to holding public officials accountable, with this case serving as a warning to others.

As Whitley prepares to serve his sentence at FCI Terre Haute, his story underscores the consequences of undermining public trust in the electoral process. With his political career likely over, the former candidate’s legal battles and past controversies continue to cast a shadow over his brief but turbulent time in Indiana politics.

For more information on campaign finance regulations, visit the Federal Election Commission’s website at fec.gov. For updates on Whitley’s ongoing legal cases, check local Indiana news sources or court records.