The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the indictment of Timothy J. Leiweke, the Co-Founder and CEO of Oak View Group (OVG), for orchestrating a conspiracy to manipulate the bidding process for a multi-purpose arena at a public university in Austin, Texas. The indictment was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and alleges that the conspiracy took place from February 2018 to June 2024.

According to the indictment, Leiweke collaborated with the CEO of a competing venue-services company to rig the bidding process. This involved an agreement where the competitor would refrain from submitting a bid in exchange for receiving subcontracts related to the Arena Project. As a result, OVG submitted the only qualified bid and won the project, which opened to the public in April 2022.

Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater emphasized the importance of competitive bidding, stating that Leiweke's actions deprived the public university and taxpayers of the benefits of a fair bidding process. The indictment highlights the commitment of the Antitrust Division and law enforcement to hold executives accountable for unfair business practices.

In connection with the indictment, OVG and Legends Hospitality have agreed to pay penalties of $15 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Leiweke faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted under Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The case is being prosecuted by the Antitrust Division’s New York Office, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.