12042017 - News Article - Ex-Indiana sheriff's bribery sentencing moved to January

Ex-Indiana sheriff's bribery sentencing moved to January
NWI Times
Updated Dec 4, 2017
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/state-and-regional/indiana/ex-indiana-sheriff-s-bribery-sentencing-moved-to-january/article_eeedaff0-47e3-5a53-bfc0-4edfae812735.html
HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — The sentencing of a former northwest Indiana sheriff convicted of federal bribery and wire fraud charges has been moved to mid-January.

Former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich's sentencing had been set for Wednesday on the charges stemming from an illegal car-towing scheme. But The Post-Tribune reports that a federal judge last week moved his sentencing to Jan. 16.

A federal jury convicted Buncich in August of bribery, wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. Buncich, a Democrat, was immediately removed from the elected sheriff's post in Indiana's second most-populous county. He had been elected in 2015 to his fourth term as sheriff.

Federal prosecutors told jurors that Buncich abused his elected position to solicit bribes from towing operators. He has denied all wrongdoing.