04202012 - News Article - Ex-Gary city official sentenced to 15 months in mortgage scam

Ex-Gary city official sentenced to 15 months in mortgage scam

Post-Tribune (IN)
April 20, 2012

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=13E671B4857FFD50&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1

The former director of community development for the city of Gary will spend 15 months in prison in addition to paying restitution of almost $88,000, a federal judge ruled Thursday afternoon. 

Jacquelyn Drago - Hunter ’s attorney, Kevin Milner, argued strongly that she receive probation in connection with the one count of wire fraud to which she pleaded guilty. Drago - Hunter , 61, of Merrillville, has several health issues including cancer, Milner said, and is taking care of her 99-year-old mother. 

“Your honor, not all people are the same,” Milner said during the sentencing hearing at the U.S. District Court in Hammond. “Not all crimes are the same.” 

He argued that the judge shouldn’t sentence Drago - Hunter as he would someone in their 20s, arguing she likely won’t live to the average life span of most women because of her health. 

“We do not need the extra pound of flesh,” Milner said. 

However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Bell argued that Drago - Hunter ’s crimes were serious, partly because she abused her position of trust as a title agent. 

Drago - Hunter was charged in 2010 with working with three other defendants — including Gary businessman Jerry Haymon — to run a mortgage fraud scheme in which they forged sellers’ signatures on closing documents in order to sell houses for tens of thousands more than the seller was actually asking. They would then use liens Haymon filed for work he never actually did on the houses to collect the difference. 

Bell said prosecutors could have proven Drago - Hunter at least knew the sellers’ signatures were forged, if not forging them herself. He argued that although Haymon was the main player in the crime, Drago - Hunter was crucial to pulling it off. 

“The fraud does not occur without her,” Bell said, adding she kept lenders in the dark. 

U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano said he made an earnest attempt to see if there were any “reasonable” claims that could allow him to take more time off of Drago - Hunter ’s sentencing. However, he said he could find none and pointed out that Drago - Hunter had already benefited from the plea agreement. She was looking at another two years at least on top of any other sentence if another charge against her, aggravated identity theft, had not been dropped. 

The sentence Lozano ordered was at the bottom of the recommended federal sentencing guidelines, which prosecutors agreed to support as part of the plea agreement. Lozano also ordered Drago - Hunter to pay, along with her co-defendants who have all pleaded or been found guilty, $87,942 in restitution. 

04142012 - News Article - Snyder recounts first 100 days as Portage mayor

Snyder recounts first 100 days as Portage mayor

NWI Times

Apr 14, 2012 

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/snyder-recounts-first-days-as-portage-mayor/article_8c8aa12b-0d94-5304-a708-01bb0246fea9.html

PORTAGE | Portage Mayor James Snyder was told before he threw his hat in the ring last year to take over leadership of the city that the campaign was the easy part and his work would really begin when he took over the post.

After serving his first 100 days at the helm, Snyder said he is finding it the opposite.

"The campaign was the difficult part. This has been the rewarding part because Portage residents have been a part of it every step of the way. They helped me pick the department heads, they've shown up in record numbers at city council meetings and they've offered ideas on how to save the city money," he said this past week.

"It's a blast. I love it," he said of his first three months in office.

Snyder, only the second Republican mayor elected in the city's history, hit the ground running, with a few disappointments and some accomplishments already under his belt.

"My biggest disappointment was not getting the (COPS) grant to add three new officers on the street," he said. In January, the Democrat-controlled council voted against accepting the grant, citing financial concerns.

However, Snyder added, he believes he's found a way to add a second school resource officer to the schools and plans on hiring two additional officers soon. He said the hours at the police station have been expanded and he intends to reopen the station full-time soon.

In addition, he said, the department has been active in conducting raids, making arrests and a putting a dent in illegal drug activity in the city. They've also ordered five new vehicles, two new sniper rifles and two ATVs. The latter will be used to slow down traffic in neighborhoods this summer as part of his city safety initiative.

"We are polishing our reputations so that everyone knows that Portage is safe," he said.

He's also made progress in his jobs initiative, working with Portage Economic Development Corp. director Jim Fitzer.

Working together, the city and Fitzer helped shepherd Ratner Steel Supply Co.'s location in the city in record time, said Snyder, adding his administration is fulfilling is promise to be business-friendly.

Making the city fiscally responsible, Snyder said, was his third goal and he believes they are making strides in the effort.

"I was surprised that there were bills that hadn't got paid when I came into office. I knew it was going to be a challenge and we'd have to cut bills, but that added to our challenge," he said.

"But, it is what it is and we are taking the necessary steps to get the budget under control," he said, adding those steps include changing the trash and recycling collection in the city and having an outside review of health insurance to save money.

He said he's also challenged department heads to cut staff through attrition, removed several city official cars from the street, hired an actuary to find cost-cutting measures and made energy efficiency improvements to city hall.