FBI agent talks LC corruption
Post-Tribune (IN)
July 19, 2012
July 19, 2012
Lake County political corruption keeps the six to 12 members of the white-collar crimes squad of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ’s Merrillville office “busy.”
Supervisory Special Agent Bill Rowell shared information with the Crown Point Rotary Club Wednesday about how the squad learns about potential political wrong-doing, how they decide whether to investigate a case and what steps that investigation may go through before being turned over to a grand jury or the U.S. Attorney’s office for prosecution.
“We’re busy,” Rowell said, adding he could not comment on any pending investigation including that of Lake County Surveyor George Van Til, nor could he comment on just how many investigations concerning allegations of political or public wrong-doing are currently being pursued by his squad.
When asked by a club member if it was his team that removed computers and other material from Van Til’s office at the Lake County Government Center recently, he said to the amusement of club members he could not comment on a pending investigation , but ultimately acknowledged involvement.
Rowell said the office gets its information from a variety of sources, including the State Board of Accounts, news media, individuals charged with different crimes who would like to find favor by turning in someone else and regular citizens who call the office with a tip.
“We get quite a bit of that,” he said.
Just because the office receives a tip does not necessarily mean an investigation or charges will come. Rowell said investigators weigh the information in two primary ways before deciding to proceed: whether the tip indicates a violation of federal statute and the significance of the offender or the amount of money involved.
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