Dozier Allen corruption trial to begin
Post-Tribune (IN)
March 30, 2009
March 30, 2009
HAMMOND -- The trial of former Calumet Township Trustee Dozier T. Allen Jr. begins today, the last of the pending cases in Operation Restore Public Integrity, the U.S. attorney's long-running federal probe of public corruption in Northwest Indiana.
During 32 years as head of the poor relief office serving Gary, Griffith and surrounding unincorporated areas, Allen's name became synonymous
But during his final years in office, federal prosecutors allege that Allen and three of his top deputies paid themselves $140,000 to administer $170,000 in government grants intended to pay for job training for the needy.
Allen was indicted in 2007, less than a year after he made an unsuccessful run for Gary mayor in a special election following Scott L. King's resignation. King, one of the region's top criminal defense attorneys before becoming mayor, will represent Allen at trial.
Other prominent political figures will join Allen in the courtroom. Co-defendant Anne Marie Karras is married to former Township Board member Ted Karras and is the sister in-law of Lake County Assessor Paul Karras, and co-defendant Wanda Joshua is the mother of current Gary City Councilwoman Kim Robinson, and Joshua's attorney is former Indiana Attorney General and two-time Gary mayoral candidate Karen Freeman-Wilson. Albert Young, named as a co-defendant in the indictment, will be tried separately because his attorney was ill and would not be able to participate in the trial as scheduled.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Bell has had a hand in several high-profile Restore Public Integrity prosecutions, including East Chicago sidewalk-for-votes scheme, the investigation of the Gary Urban Enterprise Association, and former Lake County Council President Will Smith and political fixer Willie Harris.
Under former U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen and his successor, current U.S. Attorney David Capp, more than 40 public-corruption defendants have been convicted or entered guilty pleas. No defendant has been acquitted.
Allen's son, Kyle Allen Sr., is an at-large city councilman , and ran for trustee himself in 2007 against Mary Elgin, who defeated Allen in the 2002 Democratic primary. Dozier Allen at the time faced criticism following a series of Post-Tribune articles that showed the township payroll was heavy with Allen's relatives and political allies.
* All-star cast expected to join former township trustee in courtroom.
Dozier Allen and three of his top deputies accused of paying themselves $140,000 to administer $170,000 in government grants intended to pay for job training for the needy.
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