09212016 - News Article - Ex-Lake Station mayor's wife seeks leniency in public corruption case

Ex-Lake Station mayor's wife seeks leniency in public corruption case
Post-Tribune
September 21, 2016 - 7:30 PM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-deb-soderquist-request-st-0922-20160921-story.html

The wife of former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist is petitioning a federal court to spare her prison time on public corruption charges, according to court records.

Last September, a jury found Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, 58, guilty of using money from his campaign fund and Lake Station's food pantry on dozens of gambling trips to Michigan. She was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, and three counts of filing a false tax return.

A sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday cites a variety of health concerns afflicting Deborah Soderquist that cannot be properly cared for in a federal prison environment. The court filing states that she is undergoing kidney cancer treatment and suffers from muscular dystrophy, diabetes and high blood pressure. Thus, incarceration in a federal facility would be an unduly harsh punishment, the records claim.

As she has no prior criminal history, Deborah Soderquist should be sentenced in a range of 24 to 30 months in prison, her attorney, Vis Kupsis, states in the sentencing memorandum.

She is seeking an 18-month sentence to be served in a halfway house with the ability to leave as needed to seek medical treatment. She is also asking for 60 days to surrender, which would allow her to go directly to the designated facility and also complete some of her needed medical care. In addition, she is asking to not be held financially responsible for her crimes.

Keith Soderquist has agreed to a 42-month sentence, but a formal sentencing date for the couple has not been set. Deborah Soderquist also filed a motion Wednesday to delay her sentencing for 30 days while she seeks cancer treatment.

Keith Soderquist also pleaded guilty earlier this year to helping his stepdaughter Miranda Brakely hide more than $16,000 in court bond money she stole from the city by helping her get a $15,000 loan from a third party to cover up the theft. Brakely was sentenced last month to six months of home detention.