12091999 - News Article - Judge is investigated in ghost payroll case

Judge is investigated in ghost payroll case

South Bend Tribune (IN)
December 9, 1999 

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EAST CHICAGO, IND. -- The FBI is now investigating allegations of ghost payrolling in the courtroom of East Chicago City Judge Lonnie Randolph after a media investigation raised questions. 

FBI agents this week delivered subpoenas to Randolph's office and to city Controller Edwardo Maldonado demanding each appear Dec. 15 before a federal grand jury in Hammond. 

The probe comes after a recent investigation by The Times of Northwest Indiana into the increase in the number of court employees under Randolph's tenure. Since Randolph was appointed in August 1998, the City Court staff has increased from 24 to 37 employees and payroll has ballooned from $424,684 per year to $727,562. 

Among the employees Randolph hired was twice-convicted felon Roy Acuff Borom, Randolph's cousin. Borom, 56, quit his $19,157-per-year court job recently. 

Borom is still employed at the Gary Housing Authority as a $37,500-per-year foreman, a day job that requires work during almost the same hours that Randolph holds court. Two police officers who work security in Randolph's courtroom said last week they have never seen Borom in the courtroom or court offices, and two other court workers have said they very seldom saw Borom in or around City Court.