09232016 - News Article - Judge nixes request by Soderquists - Ex-Lake Station mayor, wife sought sentencing delay

Judge nixes request by Soderquists 
Ex-Lake Station mayor, wife sought sentencing delay
Post-Tribune (IN)
September 23, 2016
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/167C84BA43F07BE0?p=AWNB
A U.S. District Court judge denied a request by former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, to delay their Sept. 28 sentencing on federal corruption charges.

They sought the delay on the basis of Deborah Soderquist's medical condition, as she is undergoing cancer treatment and is scheduled for a CT scan the day after the hearing, according to court documents.

In September 2015, a jury found Keith Soderquist and his wife guilty of using money from his campaign fund and Lake Station's food pantry on dozens of gambling trips to Michigan. Deborah Soderquist was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false tax return.

Deborah Soderquist is seeking an 18-month sentence to be served in a halfway house with the ability to leave as needed to seek medical treatment.

Keith Soderquist has agreed to a 42-month prison sentence.

He 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.