Tuesday, March 26, 2019

03262019 - News Article - UPDATE: Sentencing for former Portage mayor's co-defendant in bribery scheme reset for June 7






UPDATE: Sentencing for former Portage mayor's co-defendant in bribery scheme reset for June 7
NWI Times
March 26, 2019
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/sentencing-for-former-portage-mayor-s-co-defendant-in-bribery/article_2a2c72c4-2dd5-58f4-9177-6c305880e38e.html


HAMMOND — The fate of John Cortina, the former co-defendant of convicted former Portage Mayor James Snyder, won't be known until June 7.

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen granted a request filed by federal prosecutors on Tuesday to continue Cortina's sentencing until after that of Snyder's.

Cortina, 79, owner of Kustom Auto Body in Portage, pleaded guilty in January to paying Snyder a $12,000 bribe to put himself and his partner, Scott Jurgenson, of Sampson Towing, on the city's tow list. Cortina's sentencing had been set for April 22. 

The jury, which heard testimony for 19 days in the public corruption case, acquitted Snyder on the tow for pay charge.

Jurgenson has worked as an undercover informant for the FBI during an investigation of Snyder and other alleged Region pay for tow schemes.

The court filing asked the sentencing hearing be pushed back until "shortly after" Snyder is sentenced on May 24. Cortina's attorney agreed to the request, according to the document.

Snyder was found guilty on two charges on Feb. 14. He was found guilty on a second bribery charge involving receiving a $13,000 bribe for awarding contracts on city garbage trucks and on a federal tax obstruction charge. He could face up to 13 years in prison on those charges.

In other motions awaiting rulings, Snyder has asked for the jury verdict to be set aside and that he be acquitted on the two charges or that a new trial be ordered.

4 comments:

  1. We absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post's to
    be precisely what I'm looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content to suit
    your needs? I wouldn't mind writing a post or
    elaborating on a few of the subjects you write with regards to here.
    Again, awesome web site!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey very interesting blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is really attention-grabbing, You are a very professional blogger.
    I've joined your rss feed and look forward to searching for more of your excellent post.
    Additionally, I've shared your web site in my social networks

    ReplyDelete
  4. Right here is the perfect site for anybody who would like to find out about this
    topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa).
    You certainly put a new spin on a subject that's been written about for decades.

    Great stuff, just wonderful!

    ReplyDelete