Former Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke received a full and unconditional presidential pardon Tuesday from President Donald Trump, just five months after the U.S. Department of Justice charged him with allegedly rigging the bid to build and operate the Moody Center arena on the University of Texas at Austin campus.
The July indictment accused Leiweke of conspiracy to restrain trade under Section 1 of the Sherman Act—an offense that could have carried a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a $1 million fine.
DOJ’s Bid-Rigging Allegations
Texas federal prosecutors alleged that Leiweke colluded with a competitor—later revealed as Legends Hospitality—in a covert pact designed to tilt the Moody Center bidding process in Oak View’s favor.
According to the indictment, Leiweke urged Legends to “stand down,” ensuring the rival would neither submit nor join an independent competing bid. In exchange, Legends was allegedly promised a series of lucrative subcontracts, including food and beverage operations and premium seating sales.
Federal prosecutors claim that once Oak View secured the arena project, Leiweke abandoned the promised subcontracts, opting instead to have Oak View take them on directly.
