Jeffersonville bar owner arrested on theft, tax evasion and racketeering charges

William Longwell

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind.  A Jeffersonville Bar owner was arrested Wednesday on several felony charges after a year-long investigation by the Indiana State Police.

In October of 2020, Detective Tim Denby, with the Indiana State Police Special Investigations Section, was contacted by the Indiana Department of Revenue about possible illegal activities by the owner and operator of Johnny D’s Bar on East Maple Street in Jeffersonville. The information stemmed from alleged under-reported income and underpaid taxes over multiple years by the establishment.

As a result of the investigation, Denby requested, and was granted, an arrest warrant for 59-year-old, William Longwell, the owner and operator of “Johnny D’s”. Longwell was arrested without incident Wednesday afternoon and taken to the Clark County Jail.

William Longwell is charged with the following:

  1.  Corrupt Business Influence (Racketeering) – Level 5 Felony
  2. Theft (four counts)- Level 6 Felony
  3. Failure to Remit Indiana Sales Tax (four counts) -Level 6 Felony
  4. Tax Evasion – Level 6 Felony
  5. Perjury – Level 6 Felony

Denby was assisted by investigators with the Indiana Department of Revenue and the Indiana Excise Police.