11302004 - News Article - EDITORIALS: Keep public integrity a priority

EDITORIALS: Keep public integrity a priority
NWI Times
Nov 30, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/keep-public-integrity-a-priority/article_f00311fe-f7fd-5e62-adee-0aa05a24c82b.html
Our opinion: Whether Peter Benjamin, the former county assessor and county auditor, should have his sentence reduced is debatable.

The U.S. Attorney's offce has come out swinging again at public corruption in Lake County and other parts of Northwest Indiana.

It seems disgraced, imprisoned Lake County politician Peter Benjamin has been extremely cooperative with federal investigators, offering them valuable leads in their quest to rid the region of corrupt elected officials and others in the public arena.

What a relief to the honest people who live here and those in public life who do not consider it their right to abuse the public trust and misuse public money. They are embarrassed and enraged by the way some offcials abuse their positions and consider themselves entitled to live off the public trust and wallet.

Operation Restore Public Integrity has resulted in the start of a major housecleaning in the region, one that few who grew up in the political structure here thought would never happen.

Under U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen and David Capp, his first assistant U.S. attorney, the offce has secured the convictions of 18 elected oggcials and public figures on corruption charges. Nine others are awaiting trial.

What a warning to those who could be targets or who could be tempted to use their public offce for private gain.

There had been speculation that in the aftermath of the federal jury trial of three East Chicago politicos, the Operation Restore Public Integrity investigation might have lost some of its steam. A federal jury convicted Councilmen Frank Kollintzas, D-4th, and Joe De La Cruz, D-at large, and City Controller Edwardo Maldonado of misappropriation of funds, but acquitted them of 10 counts of fraud and conspiracy. The jury also convicted Kollintzas of lying.

Thank goodness, that is not the case. The region's reputation for political shenanigans and underhanded methods has not helped attract new businesses to the area.

After he was convicted last year of bribery, Benjamin said he would cooperate with federal investigators on other corruption activities here, but federal prosecutors did not ퟌnd him all that helpful. As a result, they did nothing to get him a lighter sentence than the 51 months he began serving last year. After several months at the Fort Dix, N.J., Federal Correctional Institution, however, Benjamin became more helpful. For that, the feds now are saying Benjamin deserves a reduced sentence.

Whether Benjamin, the former county assessor and county auditor, should have his sentence reduced is debatable. First, it is important to see whether the information he is offering federal investigators is solid enough to lead to more indictments.

11142004 - News Article - Feds to plow ahead on public corruption - ROBERT CANTRELL

Feds to plow ahead on public corruption
NWI Times
Nov 14, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/feds-to-plow-ahead-on-public-corruption/article_e9192ef0-73c3-5839-8f91-d458e940a9d3.html
HAMMOND | The U.S. attorney's office is stepping back to look at the split verdict in East Chicago's sidewalk fraud case and its consequences for their future campaign against public corruption.

Sources within the government said prosecutors will examine their tactics and overall strategy, but were generally pleased with the results.

They won convictions Wednesday of East Chicago City Councilmen Frank Kollintzas, D-4th, and Joe De La Cruz, D-at large, and City Controller Edwardo Maldonado on one count of misappropriating public money to pave residents' driveways and businesses' parking lots with free concrete, and another count for Kollintzas' lying to the FBI.

They lost on 10 fraud and conspiracy counts, which comprised the bulk of their argument that the defendants combined to use the money to enrich their campaigns for re-election in 1999. The jury also acquitted De La Cruz of lying to the FBI.

Prosecutors privately said that didn't concern them, because they still expect to win lengthy prison terms on the convictions.

A source close to the defendants challenges that assessment, saying newspaper headlines should have underscored the many acquittals, not the few convictions.

That source contends the misappropriation count is the least serious among the charges the defendants faced, because they could win release on probation at sentencing if their convictions stand on appeal.

Lawyers for the defendants are expected to appeal the guilty verdicts as early as Monday on grounds they are inconsistent with the acquittals on the other counts.

The trial will resume Monday. Prosecutors likely will ask the jury to issue a special verdict that the defendants misappropriated such a large amount of money that they deserve prison time.

Prosecutors privately acknowledge they pushed the envelope with the sidewalk case, because they didn't have evidence the defendants pocketed any of the $24 million spent on the sidewalk project in the form of bribes or kickbacks.

The defense was able to argue the money spent in the spring of 1999 stayed in the city in the form of free services to residents. One attorney close to the case said those charged in the sidewalk case only were guilty of "over-exuberant" government.

Overturning all convictions could force prosecutors to be less aggressive in pending prosecutions and future indictments of other East Chicago and Northwest Indiana officials under Operation Restore Public Integrity.

The public corruption initiative has won the conviction of 19 public officials and politically connected business persons. Another nine public figures await trial.

Kevin Milner, a Dyer lawyer representing De La Cruz, made an impression on the jury when he argued the government's conspiracy charge in the sidewalk case was hollow because East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick and his highest advisers remained uncharged.

During their deliberations, jurors asked the judge whether the defendants could be convicted of conspiring with an official outside those charged in the case.

The government has named Pastrick as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case but hasn't charged him with any wrongdoing.

There also has been speculation that if the jury votes to give the defendants enhanced sentences that might involve prison time, the defendants and prosecutors might work out a deal in which the defendants would cooperate with the government in future prosecutions.

11102004 - News Article - EDITORIALS: Continue to roust public corruption - The issue: Joseph Van Bokkelen - Our opinion: The law-abiding citizens of Northwest Indiana have been served well by this U.S. attorney - ROBERT CANTRELL

EDITORIALS - Continue to roust public corruption
The issue: Joseph Van Bokkelen - Our opinion: The law-abiding citizens of Northwest Indiana have been served well by this U.S. attorney
NWI Times
Nov 10, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/continue-to-roust-public-corruption/article_ce95ec48-5573-558d-8e21-3546ce441168.html
A positive outcome for Northwest Indiana of President Bush's re-election is the likelihood that Joseph Van Bokkelen will continue as U.S. attorney for Northern Indiana.

Van Bokkelen and his staff have been relentless in investigating what he once called "behavior without integrity" among public officials and those who do business with government officials here.

"...and I think I am making some sort of difference," he said in what surely is the understatement of the day.

It has been under Van Bokkelen's leadership that many politicians at the municipal, township and county levels of government dread Fridays, which have become synonymous with the announcement of indictments against public officials.

When he was named U.S. attorney by President Bush, at the urging of U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., and others, Van Bokkelen made it clear that targeting public corruption in Lake County was a priority.

He stuck to that pledge -- with the convictions of 16 elected officials, public figures and politically connected businessmen; 13 on trial or awaiting trial on various charges of public fraud or its cover-up. So far.

There always has been the perception that the region was rife with political corruption, and Van Bokkelen and his team have proved that to be the reality with its Operation Restore Public Integrity.

Not since the Operation Lights Out investigation that began in the 1980s and resulted in the convictions of more than 20 people, including some high-profile politicians, has the region seen so many influential people fall like dominoes because of the aggressive federal investigations by the U.S. attorney's office.

Had Sen. John Kerry won the presidential election, Van Bokkelen -- as a Republican president's appointee -- likely would have been replaced by a Democratic appointee.

The law-abiding citizens of Northwest Indiana have been served well by this U.S. attorney, not just for the corruption investigations, but also for his vigorous prosecution of gun violations, one of the most aggressive in the nation.

Lugar's office is optimistic that Van Bokkelen will remain Northern Indiana's top law enforcement officer.

That is bad news for those in government circles who confuse elective office with an unlimited bank account. And that is good news for the rest of us.

11072004 - News Article - Van Bokkelen promises 'perfect storm' of more convictions - GOVERNMENT: Top U.S. attorney expected to stay on in Northwest Indiana - ROBERT CANTRELL

Van Bokkelen promises 'perfect storm' of more convictions
GOVERNMENT: Top U.S. attorney expected to stay on in Northwest Indiana
NWI Times
Nov 7, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/van-bokkelen-promises-perfect-storm-of-more-convictions/article_1d4d2657-2a8e-5f78-98d8-218608a4f3bc.html
HAMMOND | Not everyone may derive satisfaction from Joseph Van Bokkelen's stewardship as U.S. attorney, but he is.

"As long as I enjoy what I'm doing and I think I'm making a difference, I'm going to continue to do it. And I am enjoying it and I think I am making some sort of difference," he said last week.

Andy Fisher, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, also said the 61-year-old Van Bokkelen is likely to remain Northern Indiana's top law enforcement officer. "The expectation is that all our appointees will continue on into President George Bush's second term.

His office has won the conviction and detention of hundreds of criminals and the distinction of being one of the most aggressive in the country in the prosecution of gun violations.

However, the highest job expectations he faced when he began three years ago were in the area of public corruption.

In that time, he has presided over the conviction of 16 elected officials, public figures and politically connected businessmen. Another 13 are either on trial or awaiting trial on a variety of charges of public fraud or its cover-up.

Van Bokkelen recently promised a "perfect storm" of still more indictments, which have turned Fridays -- the day grand juries usually issue corruption charges -- a painful experience for local officials.

Had Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry won election, Van Bokkelen would have had to resign by year's end and have been replaced by a Democratic appointment. President Bush's re-election Tuesday is likely to dispel any illusions that Van Bokkelen's Operation Restore Public Integrity would be retired.

Former U.S. Attorney Jim Richmond, who served on the search committee that recommended Van Bokkelen, said a change is possible. He said former President Bill Clinton made wholesale changes in U.S. attorney offices across America after his re-election eight years ago. "Then they realized they didn't have anybody who knew what was going on."

Van Bokkelen served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the early 1970s. He was in private practice for 26 years before his appointment.

Northwest Indiana's public figures have been reluctant to comment on the job Van Bokkelen does, fearful of drawing his ire. Richmond, who represents several criminal defendants being prosecuted by Van Bokkelen's office, also declined comment on Van Bokkelen's job performance, but did say, "I think we picked the best candidate."

Fisher said Lugar thinks "Our set of appointees have been serving well in their positions and the expectation is that with the election concluded, they will carry on."