10042012 - News Article - Feds to announce details of public corruption investigation

Feds to announce details of public corruption investigation

Post-Tribune (IN)
October 4, 2012

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The U.S. Attorney’s office in Hammond will announce details Thursday morning of an “ongoing investigation of public corruption,” according to a release. 

The office will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. at the U.S. District Court in Hammond. 

The news release did not have any more details on what will be announced, and Mary Hatton, spokeswoman for the office, said she had no comment. 

The news conference will come a year after the U.S. Attorney’s office’s last announcement of public corruption cases. U.S. Attorney David Capp then announced indictments against three Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers and a separate indictment against former Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot. 

The officers — Edward Kabella , Joseph Kumstar and Ronald Slusser — all pleaded guilty to buying guns illegally through the Sheriff’s Department and then selling parts online. Kabella is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 17. Sentencings for the other two have not been set. 

A federal jury found Philpot guilty this summer of theft and wire fraud while he was Lake County clerk. His sentencing has not been scheduled.