Feds ready with new indictment
Charges could come from one of several public corruption investigations
Charges could come from one of several public corruption investigations
Post-Tribune (IN)
July 16, 2004
July 16, 2004
The U.S. attorney for the Northern District has scheduled a news conference for today to announce another indictment.
The announcement is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Hammond.
The indictment is believed to be another one tied to Operation Restore Public Integrity, launched by U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen to take aim at corrupt government officials and public contractors.
The first indictments, issued in September 2003, were from a federal probe into the 1999 East Chicago sidewalk scam designed to help to re-elect Mayor Robert Patrick.
Federal officials have so far indicted East Chicago City Council President Frank Kollintzas, councilmen Joe De la Cruz and Adrian Santos, City Controller Edward Maldonado, Park Superintendent Jose "Joe" Valdez and City Engineer Pedro Porras for their roles in procuring millions of dollars in no-bid contracts.
Their trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 4.
East Chicago City Councilman Randall Artis and brother Terrance were indicted in May for allegedly taking part in the same scheme. Their trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 7.
A number of unrelated cases also have been presented to federal investigators as part of the wide-ranging probe.
North Township officials have been under close scrutiny for a number of allegations, but no indictments have resulted.
In Gary, federal investigators have been interviewing school officials about the role former School Board President Michael Scott had in awarding high-profile contracts, including the building of three new schools in the city. Scott hasn't been indicted.
And in East Chicago, Building Commissioner Miguel Arredondo and other city department heads are of interest to investigators for their city and private business arrangements.
In Porter County, federal officials have been delving into a $10 million Chesterton land deal in which former state Democratic Party Chairman Peter Manous and Kevin Pastrick, son of the East Chicago mayor, have pleaded guilty to conspiring with Carpenters Union official Gerry Nannenga to defraud the carpenters pension fund by paying an inflated price for 55 acres at the Coffee Creek subdivision, a subsidiary of NiSource.
Sentencing dates are Sept. 10 for Nannenga, Sept. 17 for Pastrick and Nov. 3 for Manous .
In Gary, federal investigators have moved against city officials and contractors, returning indictments in February against Deputy Mayor Geraldine Tousant, and city employees Vanesse Dabney and Kimberly E. Lyles.
The three women, whose trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 12, are accused of lying to federal agents about city contracts with a businessman.
In June, businessman and former Gary/Chicago International Airport board member Otho Lyles III pleaded guilty to charges that he lied to federal agents. His sentencing date is March 8, 2005.
It is widely believed that these Gary defendants were caught up in an on-going federal probe into the clout wielded by Gary businessman Jewell Harris Sr., a one-time confidant and former campaign manager for Gary Mayor Scott King.
In January, federal prosectors joined a task force that included Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter and Attorney General Steve Carter, looking at allegations of vote fraud coming out of the 2003 elections in Lake County. Federal agents have been interviewing suspects and informants in court cases stemming from irregularities in the 2003 Democratic primary for the East Chicago mayoral race and Schererville judge race.
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