08222017 - News Article - Closing arguments expected in Buncich trial

Closing arguments expected in Buncich trial
POST-TRIBUNE NEWS
August 22, 2017
chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-buncich-trial-day-12-0823-20170822-story.html
The trial of Lake County Sheriff John Buncich began to wind down Tuesday as attorneys presented the last bits of testimony.

The sheriff's corruption trial continued into its 12th day with only three witnesses taking the stand. The bulk of the testimony focused on cash deposits in the sheriff's personal bank account. Buncich's defense team and prosecutors are expected to make closing arguments Wednesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson introduced an exhibit showing money reportedly received by Buncich during transactions with tow operators, cash deposits to the sheriff's personal bank account and the Buncich Boosters account. The chart shown in court ran from April 2014 to October 2016.

During the more than two-year period, the exhibit showed Buncich, 71, allegedly took $26,000 in cash payments from tow operators. During the same two-year period, $58,100 in cash was deposited in his personal account and $11,240 in the campaign account.

Benson pointed out an August 2016 transaction where Buncich received $1,000, and asked if it was fair to say that never showed up in the campaign account.

"That is correct," said Gerard Hatagan, an IRS agent.

Benson asked about $7,500 the sheriff took from Scott Jurgensen, of Samson's Towing in Merrillville in September 2016, and if Hatagan expected to see that show up in the campaign account.

"Yes," Hatagan said.

In testimony last week, Buncich said he used Jurgensen's payment for campaign fundraiser tickets to repay a loan he made to Buncich Boosters. Buncich said he put a notation in his campaign finance material that the $7,500 would be used as repayment.

Benson pointed out that Indiana law requires that money should have been reported as a donation before being paid out as repayment.

Defense attorney Larry Rogers asked if during the review Hatagan knew if Buncich had any hobbies, or money he might have inherited that could explain the cash deposits.

Hatagan said he did not.

Rogers pointed out that the amount of cash being deposited into Buncich's personal account was above the amount of money he allegedly took from tow operators. Rogers asked if Hatagan was suggesting that $1,000 turned into $16,000.

"No," Hatagan said.

Benson asked if Hatagan's review of the bank accounts and tax returns could determine the source of the cash deposits into Buncich's account.

"I would say it came from an illegal source," Hatagan said.

Rogers asked if it is possible those deposits came from some sort of cash that's not reportable income.

"There could be a non-taxable source that could be the explanation of the cash," Hatagan said.

Judge James Moody had previously excluded information about Buncich's personal finances from being entered into evidence, but after it came up during the sheriff's testimony, he allowed it.

Defense attorneys presented one witness Tuesday to clarify testimony from a tow operator who testified last week.

During testimony from John Nauracy, of JAN's Towing in East Chicago, the tow operator said he drove to Jurgensen's house and his business to take video with an East Chicago activist and blogger.

The defense sought to explain that was done without any direction from Buncich.

Ricardo "Streetwise" Moreno said he asked Nauracy to drive him to Jurgensen's house and tow yard to get video for a blog post.

Rogers asked if Moreno did that at the request of Buncich.

"No way, Jose," Moreno said.

Rogers asked if anyone else asked him to do that.

"No way, Jose," Moreno said. "I don't play that way."