Soderquist trial delayed a day
Post-Tribune
August 31, 2015
Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist's trial was delayed Monday after not enough potential jurors showed up.
Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, were supposed to go on trial on charges that they used money from his campaign re-election fund and money meant for the Lake Station Food Pantry to pay for gambling trips during the past several years.
They have pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false income tax return.
However, the trial was called for the day by 10 a.m. after not enough people arrived in order to select a full jury. The trial will reconvene Tuesday.
It's expect to last four to five days. Federal attorneys have said that records show the Soderquists withdrew money from the campaign and food pantry accounts within 24 hours of visiting Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan on numerous occasions.
They also argue the couple lost more than $100,000 from gambling and had already withdrawn money from their retirement accounts and wracked up more than $30,000 in credit card debt.
They're also both charged in second case involving Deborah Soderquist's daughter, Miranda Brakley, who is charged with stealing money from the city when she worked there as a city clerk and then lying on her bankruptcy filing.
All three have pled not guilty in that case, which is set to go to trial in November.
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