08212017 - News Article - Buncich denies wielding influence in towing contracts

Buncich denies wielding influence in towing contracts
POST-TRIBUNE NEWS
August 21, 2017
chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-buncich-trial-day-11-st-0822-20170821-story.html
Federal prosecutors on Monday sought to establish Lake County Sheriff John Buncich's influence on getting two tow operators additional jobs in New Chicago, Gary and Indiana University Northwest.

Buncich remained on the stand for the third day, the 11th day of his public corruptiion trail at federal court in Hammond, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson continued questioning the sheriff, seeking to find out to what extent he reached out to other agencies in an attempt to get more tow jobs for Scott Jurgensen, of Samson's Towing in Merrillville, and William "Willie" Szarmach, of C.S.A. Towing in Lake Station.

Federal prosecutors say Buncich, 71, delivered more tow jobs for operators in exchange for bribes, in the form of fundraising tickets or campaign donations. Prosecutors say Buncich had control of the county's tow operator list, assigned territory and kept firms on the list based on donations.

The defense has denied that contention, saying the sheriff was only doing legitimate campaign fundraising, and did not use the amount of money collected to determine anything with towing operations.

Benson talked about an April 22, 2016, meeting between Buncich, Jurgensen and Szarmach where the two tow operators complained about not having enough work and wanting to get more jobs through IUN, in Gary, and New Chicago.

Benson pushed Buncich on his role in getting Jurgensen all of the New Chicago towing and pointed out passages in transcripts of undercover recordings where the sheriff told the tow operator he'd make something work for Jurgensen.

"I did not promise anything," Buncich said.

Buncich said he called now former New Chicago Councilwoman Sue Pelfrey to ask about who was on the town's tow list after being asked about it by the tow operators. The sheriff said Pelfrey told him to call the New Chicago police chief.

Benson asked why Buncich needed that information and if the sheriff was telling the jury he called to get information he already knew.

"That's exactly what I'm telling the jury," Buncich said.

Defense attorney Larry Rogers asked if Buncich said anything to Pelfrey about giving either Samson's or C.S.A. Towing more towing work in New Chicago.

"No, sir," Buncich said.