Lake County chief to plead guilty to bribery charge
Chicago Post Tribune
December 16, 2016 - 8:24AM
A northwest Indiana police chief pleaded guilty Thursday to accepting bribes in a towing scheme and resigned his position with the county.
Lake County Chief of Police Timothy Downs struck a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office, which a federal judge has not yet accepted, admitting he allegedly cooperated with Sheriff John Buncich to solicit brides from tow truck operators for favorable treatment.
In addition, Downs, in the agreement, said he submitted his resignation from the Lake County Sheriff's Department.
Downs said he sold fundraising tickets to tow truck operators, according to court documents, and took both cash payments and checks from the businesses.
"Even though I knew it was in violation of the law to accept direct cash payments or campaign contributions in exchange for favorable towing contract consideration, I did so to continue receiving my salary as chief of police for the Lake County Sheriff's Department," Downs said in court documents.
On Nov. 18, U.S. Attorney David Capp announced charges against Buncich, Downs and William Szarmach, of CSA Towing.
Buncich, Downs and Szarmach were named in the multicount indictment alleging an illegal towing scheme in which the sheriff accepted bribes in the form of thousands of dollars in cash and donations to his campaign fund, Buncich's Boosters, according to court records. All three were charged with wire fraud, while Buncich and Szarmach were also charged with bribery.
Buncich, whose department was in charge of deciding which companies were called for towing services, and Downs allegedly steered business toward towing operators in exchange for cash and checks, the U.S. attorney alleged in the 14-page indictment. Buncich allegedly took more than $25,000 in cash bribes and $7,000 in checks from Szarmach and another towing operator identified as "Individual A," according to the indictment.
Buncich and Szarmach pleaded not guilty to the charges during their initial appearances.
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