Tuesday, November 29, 2016

11292016 - NWI CopBlock - Portage Indiana Police



Portage Indiana Police -  11/29/16
NWI CopBlock
Published on Nov 30, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLlb1qkQGYY


PORTAGE INDIANA 11/29/2016 - Keith Hughes, employee at the Portage, Indiana police department was filmed trespassing on private property by a citizen who was on his way to work at a local steel mill. The purpose of his trespassing was to lay the ground work for the theft of property from a Portage resident, and to drum up illegal business for the contracted towing company. The same towing company that bribed the mayor (who is now under federal indictment) and continues to fleece the citizenry in collusion with the criminal police.

The video clearly shows Hughes marking the vehicle as abandoned even though it is clearly parked in the owner’s driveway at the time. Furthermore, Hughes made no attempt to verify if the vehicle is ”mechanically inoperable”, which is needed to meet the legal definition of abandoned.

We would like to remind Keith Hughes that you cannot protect the citizens property by stealing it. We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage him to seek an honest line of work.

Monday, November 28, 2016

11282016 - News Article - EDITORIAL: Buncich, Snyder, Downs must resign



EDITORIAL: Buncich, Snyder, Downs must resign
NWI Times
The Times Editorial Board  
Updated - November 28, 2016


Sheriff John Buncich is a chief Lake County lawman now facing federal bribery charges. His deputy and second in command, Timothy Downs, is charged in the same scheme.

Portage Mayor James Snyder is the elected executive leader of a Porter County's largest city and is charged with felony violations of public trust.

All three men, charged in separate cases and indictments, owe it to their constituents to resign now.

Buncich also should immediately relinquish his post as Lake County Democratic Party chairman. Remaining in the post as the federal case unfolds will only continue to undermine his local party's reputation, already hobbled by the past felony convictions of a host of politicians affiliated with local Democrats.

Some lawyers and old-guard political figures may argue that the felony bribery charges all three men face are merely accusations — that they're all entitled to a trial by a federal jury of their peers.

That argument discounts the distraction that mounting a legal defense against federal felony charges will be to performing crucial duties of public service.

It also ignores the untenable reality of public officials trying to serve or govern when federal grand juries have found alleged evidence of violating public trust.

We all must consider the substance of the felony accusations while weighing an undeniable truth about nearly all public corruption indictments we've seen arise from the Hammond-based U.S. attorney's office.

In nearly every case for decades, indictments of Region political officials have led to convictions. That's because the U.S. attorney and federal investigators don't tend to pursue cases unless there's solid evidence of a crime.

Buncich and Downs are accused of wire fraud and receiving $34,500 in illicit bribes from a towing contractor conducting business for the county.

In a separate case, Snyder is charged with soliciting and receiving $12,000 in bribes in exchange for a towing contract with the city of Portage and soliciting $13,000 in bribes to influence public contracts and a Portage construction contract.

Snyder also is accused of obstructing the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes from his private mortgage business.

It's true Buncich, Downs and Snyder all are entitled to their days in court.

But that doesn't mean they should drag voters and taxpayers along with them.

If they opt to challenge these charges, as it appears they will, they'll need to focus on their legal defenses.

If they already intend to plead guilty, they're just unfairly delaying the inevitable by not resigning now.

In either scenario, Region residents will be getting short shrift.

If any of these men truly believes in public service, they must relinquish their offices without delay.



Sunday, November 27, 2016

11272016 - News Article - A county government history of bribery - From the FBI raids Lake County sheriff's offices series



A county government history of bribery
From the FBI raids Lake County sheriff's offices series
NWI Times
Nov 27, 2016






CROWN POINT — Once upon a time, Lake County had a sheriff indicted for mail fraud.

Last week, it was Sheriff John Buncich, who has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in January on allegations he solicited and received bribes from towing firms doing business with his department.

Three decades ago, it was Rudy Bartolomei, for wide-ranging bribery solicitation.

Bartolomei, better known to his friends as Rudy Bart, cooperated with federal investigators who sent many other high-ranking county government officials to prison under Operation Lights Out.

Bartolomei’s whereabouts have been unknown since he entered the federal witness protection program in 1986 at age 62, although the rumor among political circles is that he died years ago.

But between 1976 when he was first elected a Lake County commissioner and 1985 when he resigned as sheriff following a guilty plea in U.S. District Court, he was one of the best known and most powerful politicians in Lake County.

In his younger days, he helped his mother run the family’s grocery store in Gary’s Glen Park section. He became a Democratic precinct committeeman and worked eight years in the county assessor’s office.

‘Helping people’
A Times story about the new commissioner portrayed him as having a handshake and a warm greeting for the common man. He told a Times reporter, “I’m really excited about helping people, now. Most of the time, it is people asking for help, and you do your best to help them.”

He had a jar of licorice on his desk for his many visitors.

Years later, his other side was revealed in court testimony about forcing county employees to buy political fundraising tickets and shaking down those who wanted business with the county.

A federal court document recounts Bartolomei meeting a then-up-and-coming politician, Frank A. J. Stodola, who had just been elected county commissioner in 1980 and wanted to know if rumors about county government graft were true.

It states, “Stodola approached Commissioner Rudy Bartolomei on several occasions and asked Bartolomei where the commissioners made their money.”

Bartolomei answered that the cleaning service for the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point inflated its bills to the county to cover the bribes paid all three members of the Board of Commissioners at that time.

Moving up
Bartolomei saw his opportunity to become the county’s chief law enforcement officer in 1983 when Sheriff Chris Anton died in office. A caucus of the county’s Democratic precinct committee members picked Bartolomei over Anton’s widow, Anna, to replace him.

A Times reporter asked him after his victory celebration about reports the FBI was looking into him. Bartolomei denied knowing anything about it.

Shortly after becoming sheriff, court documents state Bartolomei began offering protection to the owners of video poker machines, which were illegal at the time, but popping up at local taverns.

Bartolomei and other county police officials promised protection for those willing to pay, not knowing one of their petitioners was wearing a wire and recording conversations for the FBI.

A second federal investigation focused on Bartolomei’s stolen gun collection. U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raided a safe in the Sheriff’s Department and seized 50 weapons and an unregistered .38-caliber handgun silencer.

After months of speculation, a federal grand jury returned a 15-count indictment against Bartolomei March 1, 1985, accusing him of:

Ordering five county employees in 1980 to assemble political signs for his re-election at public expense

Ordering three county employees in 1981 to do repair work on his summer cottage on Lake Michigan

Paying his housemaid with $2,300 from federal revenue sharing funds belonging to the county

Extorting political contributions from employees, including $650 from a heavy-equipment operator who asked Bartolomei for a raise

Bartolomei pleaded not guilty, blamed the allegations on political enemies and disgruntled county employees and wouldn’t compromise his ability to remain sheriff.

Six months later, he pleaded guilty to two felony counts, received a 28-month sentence, and was shackled and marched out of a federal courtroom.

Two months later, he was briefing federal investigators and a grand jury on the web of public corruption over which he and his fellow county officials had presided.

He would return to the federal courthouse over the years to testify as the government’s star witness, helping win convictions against a number of officials, including: County Assessor Michael Jankovich, county Commissioners Noah Atterson Spann and Frank A.J. Stodola and Michael Mokol Sr., chief of police under Bartolomei.

To protect his new identity outside the courthouse, he wore a Halloween mask resembling Skeletor, a character from the Masters of the Universe cartoons.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

11262016 - News Article - RICH JAMES: South county names emerge in sheriff discussion



RICH JAMES: South county names emerge in sheriff discussion
NWI Times
Nov 26, 2016 
Long before a federal indictment rattled the political power structure in Lake County a week ago, the 2018 campaign for sheriff was well under way.

The indictment of Sheriff John Buncich shocked many, including myself. He has been a strong sheriff since starting his second stint as the county’s top cop in 2011.

But the very sound of the word indictment does crazy things to those in political circles. It’s like a shark sensing blood in the water.

Lake County Auditor John Petalas was a calming voice last week when he said, “Everybody who knows him is holding back to see what has really happened.”

When it comes to the 2018 Democratic primary for sheriff, no one is holding back — at least privately.

The indictment has jump-started the inevitable. There are two possible paths for who becomes the next sheriff.

If a vacancy occurs, the county’s precinct committeemen and vice committeemen will select the next sheriff.

If nothing happens until the 2018 primary, Democratic voters will decide. Republicans, who haven’t won a countywide office for almost 70 years, need not apply.

Speculation is all over the board, including the return of former Sheriff Roy Dominguez.

That’s not going to happen in that Dominguez left office under a cloud when his second in command, Joe Kumstar, and other cops were indicted and convicted on gun-dealing charges.

There are two guys wishing the best for Buncich but are in the midst of running sheriff campaigns for 2018.

One is former county Councilman Thomas O’Donnell, who was planning to run for sheriff. But those plans were derailed earlier this year.

In its quest to win back the Indiana House, state Democrats convinced O’Donnell, a Dyer resident, to make a second bid for state representative against Rep. Hal Slager.

O’Donnell narrowly lost to Slager in 2012. With a loose cannon like Donald Trump heading the ballot, Democrats thought down-ballot races were ripe for picking. It was pretty good logic at the time.

O'Donnell lost, and there is a feeling now on the part of some that the party owes him its backing if he runs for sheriff. He told some that if he lost to Slager, he would be a sheriff candidate.

Then there is Schererville Police Chief David Dowling, who has been campaigning for sheriff for a good while.

He has campaign cards that read, “Responsible leadership. Quality policing.” It’s hard to argue with that. Dowling is a solid guy.

Whether it’s O’Donnell or Dowling, it would be the first time the county has picked a sheriff with roots in south county. It would signal a shift in the political power structure.

Friday, November 25, 2016

11252016 - News Article - Feds: Retired officer was crucial in Indiana bribery probe



Feds: Retired officer was crucial in Indiana bribery probe
The Daily Progress
Updated November 25, 2016 

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — A federal prosecutor says a retired police officer was instrumental in an investigation that led to bribery charges against a northwestern Indiana sheriff, his top deputy and a mayor.

U.S. Attorney David Capp says Scott Jurgenson's voluntary cooperation and assistance helped federal investigators uncover the alleged corruption.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports (http://bit.ly/2fcdZTN ) that Jurgenson served 22 years as an officer with the Merrillville Police Department. He's now owner of Samson's Towing of Merrillville.

The indictments announced Nov. 18 name Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Chief Deputy Tim Downs and Portage Mayor James Snyder. They allegedly collected bribes in return for contracts for towing and other services.

Tow company owners William Szarmach and John Cortina were also indicted. They are accused of making payments in exchange for contracts.

11252016 - News Article - Officer praised in probe of graft - Help led to charges in Hammond area



Officer praised in probe of graft
Help led to charges in Hammond area
The Journal Gazette
November 25, 2016 

HAMMOND – A retired police officer was instrumental in an investigation that led to charges alleging that a northwestern Indiana sheriff, his top deputy and a mayor collected bribes in return for contracts for towing and other services, a federal prosecutor said.

United States Attorney David Capp said the voluntary cooperation and assistance of Scott Jurgenson, owner of Samson’s Towing of Merrillville, helped investigators uncover the alleged corruption, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.

Capp said Jurgenson spent 22 years as an officer with the Merrillville Police Department before retiring.

The indictments announced Nov. 18 name Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Chief Deputy Tim Downs, Portage Mayor James Snyder and two owners of local tow companies – William Szarmach of Chase Street Auto in Lake Station and John Cortina of Kustom Auto Body in Portage.

Prosecutors allege that between February 2014 and October 2016, Buncich, Downs and Szarmach worked to enrich Buncich and his campaign committee, Buncich Boosters, through towing contracts.

Buncich received over $25,000 in cash and $7,000, often collected by Downs, in checks from Szarmach and an unnamed individual for towing contracts in Gary and Lake County, prosecutors said. Buncich, who is chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, was elected to his fourth term as sheriff in 2015.

Snyder, a Republican in his second term as Portage’s mayor, is accused of soliciting and receiving bribes to receive contracts and obstructing the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes from his private mortgage business.

Buncich, Downs and Szarmach all face wire fraud charges, while Buncich and Szarmach are also charged with bribery.

Cortina is accused of making illegal payments to Snyder and the unnamed individual for towing contracts in Portage, located in neighboring Porter County.

Capp declined to immediately identify the unnamed individual, saying the federal investigation is still ongoing.



Buncich, Downs, Snyder and Cortina are free on bond awaiting trial, now set to begin in January. Szarmach remains in federal detention.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

11242016 - News Article - Prosecutor: Retired officer crucial in Indiana bribery probe - Washington Times



Prosecutor: Retired officer crucial in Indiana bribery probe
Washington Times
Thursday, November 24, 2016

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - A retired police officer was instrumental in an investigation that led to charges alleging that a northwestern Indiana sheriff, his top deputy and a mayor collected bribes in return for contracts for towing and other services, a federal prosecutor said.

United States Attorney David Capp said the voluntary cooperation and assistance of Scott Jurgenson, owner of Samson’s Towing of Merrillville, helped investigators uncover the alleged corruption, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported (http://bit.ly/2fcdZTN ).

Capp said Jurgenson spent 22 years as an officer with the Merrillville Police Department before retiring.

The indictments announced Nov. 18 name Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Chief Deputy Tim Downs, Portage Mayor James Snyder and two owners of local tow companies - William Szarmach of Chase Street Auto in Lake Station and John Cortina of Kustom Auto Body in Portage.

Prosecutors allege that between February 2014 and October 2016, Buncich, Downs and Szarmach worked to enrich Buncich and his campaign committee, Buncich Boosters, through towing contracts.

Buncich received over $25,000 in cash and $7,000, often collected by Downs, in checks from Szarmach and an unnamed individual for towing contracts in Gary and Lake County, prosecutors said. Buncich, who is chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, was elected to his fourth term as sheriff in 2015.


11242016 - News Article - Prosecutor: Retired officer crucial in Indiana bribery probe - Daily Herald



Prosecutor: Retired officer crucial in Indiana bribery probe
Daily Herald
Updated: 11/24/2016 - 1:43 PM

HAMMOND, Ind. -- A retired police officer was instrumental in an investigation that led to charges alleging that a northwestern Indiana sheriff, his top deputy and a mayor collected bribes in return for contracts for towing and other services, a federal prosecutor said.

United States Attorney David Capp said the voluntary cooperation and assistance of Scott Jurgenson, owner of Samson's Towing of Merrillville, helped investigators uncover the alleged corruption, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported (http://bit.ly/2fcdZTN ).

Capp said Jurgenson spent 22 years as an officer with the Merrillville Police Department before retiring.

The indictments announced Nov. 18 name Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Chief Deputy Tim Downs, Portage Mayor James Snyder and two owners of local tow companies - William Szarmach of Chase Street Auto in Lake Station and John Cortina of Kustom Auto Body in Portage.

Prosecutors allege that between February 2014 and October 2016, Buncich, Downs and Szarmach worked to enrich Buncich and his campaign committee, Buncich Boosters, through towing contracts.

Buncich received over $25,000 in cash and $7,000, often collected by Downs, in checks from Szarmach and an unnamed individual for towing contracts in Gary and Lake County, prosecutors said. Buncich, who is chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, was elected to his fourth term as sheriff in 2015.

Snyder, a Republican in his second term as Portage's mayor, is accused of soliciting and receiving bribes to receive contracts and obstructing the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes from his private mortgage business.

Buncich, Downs and Szarmach all face wire fraud charges, while Buncich and Szarmach are also charged with bribery.

Cortina is accused of making illegal payments to Snyder and the unnamed individual for towing contracts in Portage, located in neighboring Porter County.

Capp declined to immediately identify the unnamed individual, saying the federal investigation is still ongoing.

Buncich, Downs, Snyder and Cortina are free on bond awaiting trial, now set to begin in January. Szarmach remains in federal detention.

Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

11232016 - News Article - Feds: Former cop helped break bribery schemes



Feds: Former cop helped break bribery schemes
NWI Times
November 23, 2016
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/crime-and-court/feds-former-cop-helped-break-bribery-schemes/article_ba2e6d91-9515-5be0-8e9a-55d1149dd058.html



CROWN POINT — Federal authorities are crediting a retired Merrillville police officer with coming forward to expose an alleged bribes-for-towing scheme that has engulfed the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Portage City Hall.

United States Attorney David Capp said the voluntary cooperation and assistance of Scott Jurgenson, owner of Samson’s Towing of Merrillville, has been instrumental in helping federal investigators uncover corruption in the awarding of towing contracts.

He said Jurgenson was a 22-year veteran of the Merrillville Police Department.

Last Friday, the government charged Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Timothy Downs, the sheriff’s second-in-command, and Portage Mayor James E. Snyder.

Buncich and Downs are accused of wire fraud and receiving $34,500 in illicit cash payments.

The government charged William “Willie” Szarmach, operator of CSA Towing of Lake Station, with paying bribes to Buncich and Downs.

The government charged Snyder with soliciting and receiving $12,000 in bribes in exchange for a towing contract with the city of Portage.

Snyder also is charged with soliciting and accepting $13,000 in bribes to influence public contracts and a construction project in Portage, and obstructing the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes from Snyder’s private mortgage business.

The government charged John Cortina, owner of Kustom Auto Body of Portage, with making illegal payments to Snyder.

Buncich, Downs, Snyder and Cortina are free on bond awaiting trial, now set to begin in January.

Szarmach has been in federal detention since his arrest Friday. He appeared Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond to try to win pre-trial freedom too, but the matter was delayed.

Jurgenson is ‘Individual A’
The U.S. attorney identified Jurgenson’s role in the federal investigation, following a Times review of Buncich’s campaign finance records indicating Jurgenson’s towing firm was at the center of the wide-ranging bribery investigation.

Last week’s indictments mention an “Individual A” who gave Buncich and Downs $19,500 in contributions to Buncich Boosters, the sheriff’s campaign election committee.

Capp declined to immediately identify Individual A, saying the federal investigation into corrupt towing would continue.

Earlier this week, The Times obtained a 2014 campaign finance report Buncich had filed with the Lake County Voter Registration and Elections Board. Earlier this month, federal authorities subpoenaed that report along with others of Buncich dating back to 2008.

Last week’s indictments state Individual A wrote a $2,000 check to Buncich’s campaign on April 8, 2014.

Buncich’s 2014 campaign finance report states Jurgenson’s Samson Towing was the only donor to make a donation of that amount on that day.

Jurgenson could not be reached for comment.

Buncich reported receiving more than 460 donations totaling $222,000 in 2014 and 2015 from a multitude of individuals, corporations and labor organizations.

Contributions missing
But those reports don’t mention $12,000 in donations Szarmach and his towing firm allegedly made to Buncich, according to last week’s indictment.

The government is alleging Buncich hid towing-related payments from the public to cover up the bribery, and that he was illegally fundraising on government time, a prohibited activity under county government rules.

County police order thousands of cars towed annually from public streets for a variety of violations.

County government gives the sheriff exclusive authority to pick which towing firms can remove cars and charge the owners hundreds in towing and storage fees.

Buncich has used as many as a dozen towing firms, the government alleges.

The indictments state Jurgenson’s Samson Towing and Szarmach’s CSA Towing won an increasing share of the county’s towing business with their payments to Buncich and his campaign.



Last week’s indictments allege Portage Mayor Snyder accepted two bank checks of $10,000 and $2,000 earlier this year from Cortina and Jurgenson to win towing contracts for Cortina’s and Jurgenson’s firms.

11232016 - Thank you, Officer Scott Jurgenson!





Thank you,  retired Merrillville Police Officer Scott Jurgenson, for assisting the FBI, in the investigation of Portage Mayor James Snyder. Thank you for not remaining silent, as so many officials have, about Snyder's corruption.

Without your assistance, justice would not have been possible:
Portage-Mayor-James-Snyder--INDICTMENT--11172016--Case-216CR160

Thank you!
Renee' Harrington
Abbi Mae
Bailey Su









Feds: Former cop helped break bribery schemes

NWI Times
November 23, 2016
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/crime-and-court/feds-former-cop-helped-break-bribery-schemes/article_ba2e6d91-9515-5be0-8e9a-55d1149dd058.html



CROWN POINT — Federal authorities are crediting a retired Merrillville police officer with coming forward to expose an alleged bribes-for-towing scheme that has engulfed the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Portage City Hall.

United States Attorney David Capp said the voluntary cooperation and assistance of Scott Jurgenson, owner of Samson’s Towing of Merrillville, has been instrumental in helping federal investigators uncover corruption in the awarding of towing contracts.

He said Jurgenson was a 22-year veteran of the Merrillville Police Department.

Last Friday, the government charged Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Timothy Downs, the sheriff’s second-in-command, and Portage Mayor James E. Snyder.

Buncich and Downs are accused of wire fraud and receiving $34,500 in illicit cash payments.

The government charged William “Willie” Szarmach, operator of CSA Towing of Lake Station, with paying bribes to Buncich and Downs.

The government charged Snyder with soliciting and receiving $12,000 in bribes in exchange for a towing contract with the city of Portage.

Snyder also is charged with soliciting and accepting $13,000 in bribes to influence public contracts and a construction project in Portage, and obstructing the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes from Snyder’s private mortgage business.

The government charged John Cortina, owner of Kustom Auto Body of Portage, with making illegal payments to Snyder.

Buncich, Downs, Snyder and Cortina are free on bond awaiting trial, now set to begin in January.

Szarmach has been in federal detention since his arrest Friday. He appeared Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond to try to win pre-trial freedom too, but the matter was delayed.

Jurgenson is ‘Individual A’
The U.S. attorney identified Jurgenson’s role in the federal investigation, following a Times review of Buncich’s campaign finance records indicating Jurgenson’s towing firm was at the center of the wide-ranging bribery investigation.

Last week’s indictments mention an “Individual A” who gave Buncich and Downs $19,500 in contributions to Buncich Boosters, the sheriff’s campaign election committee.

Capp declined to immediately identify Individual A, saying the federal investigation into corrupt towing would continue.

Earlier this week, The Times obtained a 2014 campaign finance report Buncich had filed with the Lake County Voter Registration and Elections Board. Earlier this month, federal authorities subpoenaed that report along with others of Buncich dating back to 2008.

Last week’s indictments state Individual A wrote a $2,000 check to Buncich’s campaign on April 8, 2014.

Buncich’s 2014 campaign finance report states Jurgenson’s Samson Towing was the only donor to make a donation of that amount on that day.

Jurgenson could not be reached for comment.

Buncich reported receiving more than 460 donations totaling $222,000 in 2014 and 2015 from a multitude of individuals, corporations and labor organizations.

Contributions missing
But those reports don’t mention $12,000 in donations Szarmach and his towing firm allegedly made to Buncich, according to last week’s indictment.

The government is alleging Buncich hid towing-related payments from the public to cover up the bribery, and that he was illegally fundraising on government time, a prohibited activity under county government rules.

County police order thousands of cars towed annually from public streets for a variety of violations.

County government gives the sheriff exclusive authority to pick which towing firms can remove cars and charge the owners hundreds in towing and storage fees.

Buncich has used as many as a dozen towing firms, the government alleges.

The indictments state Jurgenson’s Samson Towing and Szarmach’s CSA Towing won an increasing share of the county’s towing business with their payments to Buncich and his campaign.

Last week’s indictments allege Portage Mayor Snyder accepted two bank checks of $10,000 and $2,000 earlier this year from Cortina and Jurgenson to win towing contracts for Cortina’s and Jurgenson’s firms.

11232016 - News Article - Portage Mayor Snyder indicted on bribery, tax charges



Portage Mayor Snyder indicted on bribery, tax charges
NWI Times
UPDATED - November 23, 2016

PORTAGE — Mayor James Snyder has been indicted in federal court in Hammond on bribery and obstruction charges.

U.S. District Attorney David Capp announced the indictments in a press conference Friday morning.

While the charges were being read from the federal courthouse in Hammond, Snyder met with city department heads and employees at his home.

U.S. marshals escorted Snyder, 38, into court about 3:30 p.m. Friday. He flashed smiles at his lawyers, Thomas Kirsch and Thomas Dogan.

He pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry to felony bribery, extortion and tax dodging counts, which carry long prison terms if he is convicted.

He was freed on a $20,000 recognizance bond, but has to surrender his passport and firearms he owns. When the judge asked Snyder if he has a passport, Snyder smiled and said, “We’ve been looking for it since 7 a.m.”

Snyder’s administrative assistant, Amanda Lakie, said he would not be making a statement and directed The Times to Snyder’s attorney. Lakie said Snyder met with employees to encourage them to continue their work for the city.

“Mayor James Snyder has been under investigation for nearly two and half years and today was indicted on three counts,” said Snyder’s attorney, Tom Kirsch, of Chicago. “Mayor Snyder believed that this extremely lengthy federal investigation had been concluded without charges being sought. Today’s indictment comes as a complete surprise. This is particularly so because these charges are meritless. Mayor Snyder has always been cooperative with federal agents throughout the relentless investigation. Mayor Snyder looks forward to fighting these charges in a court of law and to complete vindication. Mayor Snyder and his family are grateful for the outpouring of support they have received from residents, friends, and family and asks that they continue to believe in him through this time.”

Federal authorities arrested and arraigned John Cortina, owner of Kustom Auto Body, 5409 U.S. 6, Portage, earlier Friday. He is pleading not guilty to his role in the scheme and is also free on bond.

Cherry set their trial to begin the week of Jan. 23, although the date could change if the defense needs more time to prepare.

The charges
The first charge names Snyder and Cortina.

Snyder and Cortina are both charged with a violation of the federal bribery statute. Snyder is alleged to have corruptly solicited and received two checks totaling $12,000 from Cortina, in exchange for a towing contract in the city of Portage, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Cortina is charged with corruptly offering those checks to Snyder.

Cortina’s business was raided last week by Indiana State Police and U.S. Treasury Department agents. Cortina told The Times then that his business was not the subject of the raid, that a towing company which leases property from Cortina was being investigated.

Snyder is also charged with a second violation of the federal bribery statute. That count alleges that between Jan. 1, 2012 and Jan. 10, 2014, Snyder corruptly solicited and agreed to accept a bank check in the amount of $13,000 in connection with Portage Board of Works contracts, a Portage Redevelopment Commission project and other consideration, stated the release.

The final charge against Snyder alleges obstruction of the internal revenue laws. This count sets forth an alleged scheme, undertaken by Snyder between January 2010 and April 2013, to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service’s collection of personal taxes he owed and payroll taxes owed by his mortgage business, First Financial Trust Mortgage LLC. Snyder is alleged to have diverted funds away from FFTM to a sole proprietorship he created, and submitted three forms to the IRS which failed to disclose, among other things, the existence of the sole proprietorship and its bank account – all during a time when the IRS was attempting to collect the aforementioned tax debt.

Lengthy investigation
The indictment comes after more than two years of investigation by the FBI into the city and Snyder and less than two months after Snyder attempted to get the city’s Utility Service Board to pay some $93,000 in legal fees involving the investigation.

In September, Snyder had two checks cut by the department and sent to two legal firms without approval by the board. The legal firms allegedly returned the checks because they were not from Snyder directly. The funds were returned to the department and Mark Oprisko, City Council president and utility board vice chairman, called for an investigation by an independent attorney into the claims.

While state law allows Snyder to request the reimbursement it can only be done if he was cleared of the investigation and there were no impending indictments.

Reactions
Oprisko said he had the “wind knocked out of me” when he heard about the indictments and was “disheartened,” thinking that the investigation was over a couple of months ago.

“It is a black eye to the city. The investigation is what it is. He is innocent until proven guilty. He still has a job to do. He has to pick it up and move forward,” Oprisko said, adding the same is true for city employees and other elected officials. “Our job is to serve the citizens of Portage, and we will continue to do that.”

“While this is a sad day for the city of Portage, Jim Snyder deserves his day in court,” said Portage Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham. “However, I am focused on ensuring myself and the City Council continue to lead Portage forward despite the mayor’s troubles. Now, more than ever, Portage needs good leaders. We are more than any one person and the issues of one won’t derail our progress.”

“Today’s indictment issued by the United States Attorney in connection to Portage Mayor James Snyder is deeply concerning,” said Portage Councilman Collin Czilli in a written statement, promising residents that city business will continue unimpeded. “However, like any other individual, Mayor Snyder deserves his day in court and the right to defend himself. As a city Councilman, I am of the mindset that we must allow the judicial process to continue and to not interfere in that process for political purposes.”

“These investigations are not over. Our public corruption team will continue its work, particularly into the towing contracts in both Lake and Porter counties,” Capp said in the press release.

Anyone with information related to these public corruption charges is encouraged to call the FBI at (219) 769-3719.

11232016 - News Article - Feds: Former cop helped break bribery schemes - From the FBI raids Lake County sheriff's offices series



Feds: Former cop helped break bribery schemes
From the FBI raids Lake County sheriff's offices series
NWI Times
Nov 23, 2016

CROWN POINT — Federal authorities are crediting a retired Merrillville police officer with coming forward to expose an alleged bribes-for-towing scheme that has engulfed the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Portage City Hall.

United States Attorney David Capp said the voluntary cooperation and assistance of Scott Jurgensen, owner of Samson’s Towing of Merrillville, has been instrumental in helping federal investigators uncover corruption in the awarding of towing contracts.

He said Jurgensen was a 22-year veteran of the Merrillville Police Department.

Last Friday, the government charged Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Timothy Downs, the sheriff’s second-in-command, and Portage Mayor James E. Snyder.

Buncich and Downs are accused of wire fraud and receiving $34,500 in illicit cash payments.

The government charged William “Willie” Szarmach, operator of CSA Towing of Lake Station, with paying bribes to Buncich and Downs.

The government charged Snyder with soliciting and receiving $12,000 in bribes in exchange for a towing contract with the city of Portage.

Snyder also is charged with soliciting and accepting $13,000 in bribes to influence public contracts and a construction project in Portage, and obstructing the IRS from collecting unpaid taxes from Snyder’s private mortgage business.

The government charged John Cortina, owner of Kustom Auto Body of Portage, with making illegal payments to Snyder.

Buncich, Downs, Snyder and Cortina are free on bond awaiting trial, now set to begin in January.

Szarmach has been in federal detention since his arrest Friday. He appeared Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond to try to win pre-trial freedom too, but the matter was delayed.

Jurgensen is ‘Individual A’
The U.S. attorney identified Jurgensen’s role in the federal investigation, following a Times review of Buncich’s campaign finance records indicating Jurgensen’s towing firm was at the center of the wide-ranging bribery investigation.

Last week’s indictments mention an “Individual A” who gave Buncich and Downs $19,500 in contributions to Buncich Boosters, the sheriff’s campaign election committee.

Capp declined to immediately identify Individual A, saying the federal investigation into corrupt towing would continue.

Earlier this week, The Times obtained a 2014 campaign finance report Buncich had filed with the Lake County Voter Registration and Elections Board. Earlier this month, federal authorities subpoenaed that report along with others of Buncich dating back to 2008.

Last week’s indictments state Individual A wrote a $2,000 check to Buncich’s campaign on April 8, 2014.

Buncich’s 2014 campaign finance report states Jurgensen’s Samson Towing was the only donor to make a donation of that amount on that day.

Jurgensen could not be reached for comment.

Buncich reported receiving more than 460 donations totaling $222,000 in 2014 and 2015 from a multitude of individuals, corporations and labor organizations.

Contributions missing
But those reports don’t mention $12,000 in donations Szarmach and his towing firm allegedly made to Buncich, according to last week’s indictment.

The government is alleging Buncich hid towing-related payments from the public to cover up the bribery, and that he was illegally fundraising on government time, a prohibited activity under county government rules.

County police order thousands of cars towed annually from public streets for a variety of violations.

County government gives the sheriff exclusive authority to pick which towing firms can remove cars and charge the owners hundreds in towing and storage fees.

Buncich has used as many as a dozen towing firms, the government alleges.

The indictments state Jurgensen’s Samson Towing and Szarmach’s CSA Towing won an increasing share of the county’s towing business with their payments to Buncich and his campaign.

Last week’s indictments allege Portage Mayor Snyder accepted two bank checks of $10,000 and $2,000 earlier this year from Cortina and Jurgensen to win towing contracts for Cortina’s and Jurgensen’s firms.



Monday, November 21, 2016

11212016 - News Article - January trials set for Lake, Porter officials



January trials set for Lake, Porter officials
Chicago Tribune
November 21, 2016



A federal judge tentatively set January trial dates for the Lake and Porter county officials indicted Friday on a series of public corruption charges.

Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, chief of police Timothy Downs and William Szarmach, of CSA Towing in Lake Station, are tentatively set for trial on Jan. 17, according to court records. Portage Mayor James Snyder and John Cortina, of Kustom Auto Body in Portage, are tentatively set for trial on Jan. 23, court records show.

Buncich, Downs, Szarmach, Snyder and Cortina all pleaded not guilty during their initial appearances Friday.

Buncich, Downs and Szarmach are named in a multi-count 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 are facing charges of wire fraud, while Buncich and Szarmach also are charged with bribery.

The sheriff, whose department was in charge of deciding which companies were called for towing services, and the chief allegedly steered business toward towing operators in exchange for cash and checks, the U.S. attorney alleged in a 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.

Paul Stracci, of Stracci Criminal Defense, who is representing Buncich, had no comment on the tentative scheduling of the trial.

Snyder and Cortina, named in a separate indictment, were charged with bribery. Capp said the mayor solicited money from Cortina and "Individual A" and gave them a towing contract for Portage.

Snyder allegedly accepted $13,000 in connection with a Board of Works contract and obstructed tax laws for by impeding the government's collection of personal taxes he owed and payroll taxes owed by his mortgage business, First Financial Trust Mortgage LLC.

Snyder declined to comment after his hearing, but his lead attorney, Thomas Kirsch, of the law firm Winston and Strawn, said they were surprised by the indictment, "particularly so because these charges are meritless."

11212016 - News Article - Lake sheriff shelters behind his badge for now



Lake sheriff shelters behind his badge for now
NWI Times
Nov 21, 2016 
CROWN POINT — John Buncich remained Lake County’s top cop and Democratic party boss Monday as rumors about whether he would resign swirled around his office in the wake of his Friday bribery indictment.

Mark Back, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department, denied a report early Monday that the sheriff was planning a news conference. He stated, “There have been no changes to Sheriff’s Department administration.”

Party officials said Monday Buncich hasn’t indicated he would step down as chairman before a previously scheduled caucus in early March to elect the next county chairman.

Buncich didn’t return calls seeking comment.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said, “Should he step down as sheriff? Yes, but being realistic, this is his job and how he pays his bills. I don’t understand why (Buncich) would want to be chairman, anymore.”

“John has ruined the Lake County Democratic party. We were improving our reputation statewide, and this has set it back a decade. This guy can’t do his job as chairman, but will he resign? I’m not sure,” McDermott said.

Buncich has been the county’s highest elected law enforcement official from 1994 to 2002, and again from 2010 to the present. He has been party chairman June 2014.

Buncich, 70, and Timothy Downs, 65, Buncich’s handpicked chief of police, are accused of wire fraud. Buncich is additionally charged with receiving bribes.

U.S. Attorney David Capp and federal investigators allege Buncich received more than $30,000 in bribes between February 2014 and last month from towing companies wanting the sheriff’s permission to remove cars from public streets. The sheriff receives an annual salary of $143,926.32.

Both were arrested and released on bond Friday after entering not guilty pleas. Their trial is tentatively scheduled to begin Jan. 17 and could last for up to three weeks.

McDermott Jr., who clashed earlier this year with Buncich over party matters, said he has spoken with the Democratic state chairman and local elected officials about handing party affairs over to the party’s vice chairwoman, Lake County Treasurer Peggy Katona.

Lake County election officials said that if Buncich resigned as sheriff, state election laws would require a caucus of more than 1,000 Democratic precinct committee members to meet within 30 days to elect the next sheriff to serve the remainder of Buncich’s term.

Lake Elections Director Michelle Fajman and Jim Wieser, an attorney for the county elections board, said judicial vacancies are filled by a governor’s appointment, but sheriff is considered a local office to be filled by the party of the departed officeholder.

Lake Councilman Dan Dernulc, the Lake County Republican chairman, said Monday, “We are held to higher standards, and we should be, by people. When that trust is broken, it really puts a taint on all politicians. I’m not trying to say the sheriff is guilty. I don’t know, but this is another slap in the face for Lake County.”

Lake Auditor John Petalas, a longtime supporter of Buncich, said, “The vultures started circling the building minutes after that FBI raid (Nov. 10), which came out of left field. John has been a policeman for 45 years and done a lot of good things. Everybody who knows him is holding back to see what has really happened.”

Saturday, November 19, 2016

11192016 - News Article - Local politicians react to federal corruption indictments of Lake, Porter officials



Local politicians react to federal corruption indictments of Lake, Porter officials
Post-Tribune
November 19, 2016 - 4:53PM


Following a series of corruption indictments against elected leaders in Lake and Porter counties, other officials decried the situation but called for unity moving forward.

U.S. Attorney David Capp Friday announced indictments against Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, Timothy Downs, the sheriff's second-in-command; Portage Mayor James Snyder, William Szarmach of Chase Street Auto in Lake Station and John Cortina of Kustom Auto in Portage.

While the investigations in Lake and Porter counties were separate, both involved allegedly soliciting and accepting money from tow company operators. Buncich, Downs and Szarmach are named in multicount indictments alleging deprivation of honest services and receipt of illegal money.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., a Democrat, said the situation is disappointing and makes the entire party look bad. Buncich is chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party.

"I feel bad for everybody involved, including the residents. It's bad for the residents. It's bad for the sheriff. It's bad for Mayor Snyder," McDermott said.

Disbelief and disappointment
Lake County politicians on Friday were reacting with stunned disbelief and disappointment as news of political corruption charges against the county's top cop and Democratic Party leader made the rounds.

McDermott said he is unsure what the sheriff plans to do regarding his role as chair of the Lake County's Democratic Central Committee, the post held by McDermott until he resigned. But, he said he thought Buncich should step down. McDermott was replaced by Buncich.

McDermott said the party has an already scheduled reorganization meeting in March when the election for the party's chairman takes place. If Buncich does step down, he would like to see vice chair Peggy Katona fill the slot until March when a new election can take place.

"Hopefully John does what's right for the party," McDermott said.

Jim Wieser, election board attorney and former officeholder, said while there are mechanisms in place in the state party's bylaws to remove a party official from a position before a conviction, any speculation on whether that may happen is premature. Buncich will have the option to resign from his post as party chair.

Wieser agreed with McDermott that given the timing of the holidays and the fact the reorganization meeting is in March, if Buncich does step down it may make sense to wait until March to elect a new leader.

Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said he is not asking the sheriff to step down from either of his posts, but if he does step down from the party chairmanship, Repay said he would like to see a replacement selected before March.

"I'm not asking for him to step down. He has rights as an accused person. He has a right to defend himself any way he can," Repay said.

Whoever is in charge of Lake's Democratic Party has their work cut out for them in the wake of the Nov. 8 general election, and the charges against Buncich will only make it more difficult.

"The next county chair will have a lot of work to do rebuilding the reputation of the party. The next chairman would have had a lot of work. This just makes it all the more difficult. In my opinion, we should start fresh sooner rather than later," Repay said.

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said she is hopeful the county's Democrats can move forward as a party and as elected officials.

"It's just very unfortunate. It certainly requires us to regroup," Freeman-Wilson said. "We always know people are quick to point to Lake County as corrupt, as being a certain way. It is important in a time like this to be unified. I think we have to be focused collectively on rebuilding the party, repairing any negative damage that people may have inflicted and let folks understand that this is about individuals, not about an entire party."

City to move forward in wake of charges
Portage city officials on Friday were quick to assure citizens they had strong leadership in place, even as Snyder was indicted on federal bribery accusations and charges he tried to dodge paying payroll taxes to the IRS.

"We have a great city, and we're going to continue to move forward," City Council President Mark Oprisko said. "It's a sad day for me, and I'm beside myself. In 28 years on the council, I've never dealt with anything like this, but the mayor has a very good staff, and he does care about the citizens of Portage.

"(Snyder) needs to keep his head up and keep leading."

Snyder has declined to comment on the indictment or the 2 1/2 -year investigation leading up to the charges, but Oprisko said the mayor told him he would not be charged.

The investigation is one reason Oprisko said he blocked $93,000 in payments of legal fees to law firms that did work on Snyder's behalf during the investigation.

That determination to prevent the payments until there was more information on the legal fees is one example of Portage's leadership and another reason citizens can turn to city officials, Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham said.

"We have eight other elected officials who are leaders," Stidham said. "Portage can rest assured the city is in good hands, even with this cloud hanging over the mayor."

Portage Township Trustee Brendan Clancy, a Democrat who ran against Snyder in last year's municipal election, called for community unity in the wake of the charges.

"The mayor's innocent until proven guilty," Clancy said. "We have to let the judicial process take its course. No matter what happens, we have to come together as a city."

Snyder's indictment came after federal officials made multiple trips to Porter County government offices, as well as investigating the Portage mayor, who is a Republican.

Mike Simpson, chair of the county's Republican Party, said he was "shocked" because he's known Snyder for a long time, and "I have a great deal of respect for him."

Whether Snyder, who was re-elected to a second term as mayor last year, should step aside to focus on his legal issues remains to be seen, he said.

"It's way too early to suggest or consider something like that," Simpson said. "Any citizen, no matter their political persuasion, is innocent until proven guilty."

The county's Republican party can resolve the matter once Snyder's case has made its way through the court system, Simpson said.

"What James chooses to do, as the officer, is up to him" Simpson said. "This is extremely disconcerting no matter what, but I also believe everybody, including Buncich, deserves their day in court."

Carrie Napoleon and Michael Gonzalez are freelance reporters for the Post-Tribune. Staff reporter Craig Lyons contributed.