By Sara Jerome,

@sarmje

The FBI is investigating the wastewater treatment plant in Terre Haute, IN, for bribery, among other potential wrongdoing.

Information released in August in connection with the probe indicated that a federal grand jury is reviewing the findings, according to the Tribune-Star.

“Two subpoenas and a search warrant indicated investigators were looking for ‘documents and items, in any form, which are evidence instrumentalities and fruits’ concerning federal program bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States,” the report said.

“A copy of the search warrant and other documents were provided by City Attorney Eddie Felling in response to a public records request from the Tribune-Star. They show that Felling was ordered to appear before a grand jury on Wednesday, and Aug. 3 to produce evidence in response to a subpoena,” the report said.

FBI agents raided the treatment plant in July, removing over 30 boxes of potential evidence, the Tribune-Star reported.

Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett said the raid appears to focus on one person in particular, the report said. He said the city will begin its own investigation.

“From what we’re told, it was broad-based [and) ... we have cooperated fully with them,” Bennett said. “It would appear at this time, based on conversations we’ve had and what little information we’ve received, this is targeted at an individual.”

He added that that the plant is staffed with a high caliber of industry talent.

“We’ve got some great employees at the wastewater treatment plant; the whole plant operates at a very high level,” he said. “I’ve always been very happy about what we do down there.”

Operational problems in Terre Haute run deep. The Associated Press reported this week that “a state audit of Terre Haute's finances has raised doubts about the southern Indiana city's ability to continue to operate as a municipality.”

Mayor Bennett's administration and city leaders “are hoping the State Board of Accounts and Indiana Department of Local Government Finance can provide guidance on complying with a state mandate to reduce general fund spending by $7.9 million this year,” the report said.