Fed corruption probe widens
FRAUD INVESTIGATION: GOP leader- turned Democrat reported to be subject of state and federal probe
NWI Times
Jan 29, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/fed-corruption-probe-widens/article_6fa8b954-f9b3-5381-ba09-6bbffe1de037.html
A special task force investigating vote fraud in East Chicago and Schererville stretched into North Township this week, a move sources said puts increasing pressure on two high-profile political operatives.
Indiana State Police Lt. Mark Day, part of a special task force investigating vote fraud in East Chicago and Schererville, confirmed visiting North Township trustee offices this week to interview employees.
Sources said the questions they were asked appeared to be weaving a tighter web around former East Chicago GOP Chairman Robert Cantrell, who is on the North Township payroll, and former Schererville Judge Deborah Riga through a Hammond-based counseling agency. The agency is run by a woman who, with Cantrell, had a hand in getting Riga and others elected.
Fraud allegations surfaced shortly after the last votes were counted in the May 6 primary that handed slim victories to Riga and East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick. Recounts uncovered evidence of absentee votes cast from empty lots or vacant homes by people living outside the city or who received improper assistance from campaign workers.
Superior Court Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura heard enough evidence in the Schererville case to reverse the result, declaring challenger Kenneth Anderson the winner.
In this newest twist of the probe, North Township employees, speaking on condition of anonymity, said state police investigators asked them what Cantrell did at the township office and what his job description was. The words "ghost-payrolling" and "business partnerships" were mentioned, they said.
Other questions centered around the mandate North Township trustee employees have been under to attend routine counseling at the Hammond-based Addiction and Family Care clinic operated by Nancy Fromm.
Fromm said Cantrell is paid to bring business to the clinic. Cantrell did not return a call for comment.
Fromm ran the political campaign of Cantrell's daughter, Lake Superior Judge Julie Cantrell, and reportedly had a hand in helping to elect Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and worked on Riga's campaign. People going through Riga's Schererville court almost always used Fromm's service, according to the man who replaced her, Kenneth Anderson.
"I know for a fact that Cantrell has gotten a target letter," said one source commenting on condition of anonymity, adding that federal and state agents are leaning on Township Trustee Gregory Cvitkovich for information on ghost-payroll issues and contract steering.
Cvitkovich confirmed state police spoke with two employees in the Hammond office and others in the East Chicago office. He said neither he nor his office has been given a target letter.
No subpoenas were handed out, Cvitkovich said. He said he believes disgruntled employees are making an issue about the counseling agency to blacken his reputation.
Cvitkovich said he was advised by his attorney to offer drug and alcohol awareness and sensitivity training in the event an employee gets into a confrontation with a client and is sued.
"When you try to do the right thing you get crucified," he said.
Frank Mrvan, a newly elected North Township Board member, said eliminating the contract was the No. 1 issue for him from his first meeting.
"The employees didn't want to go, and it is a waste of taxpayers' money. It is a waste of township relief money that could have been used to help the poor," Mrvan said.
Mrvan sent a letter Tuesday to the Indiana attorney general seeking an opinion on whether the board has legal grounds to accept or reject any township contract in excess of $25,000.
About Cantrell, Cvitkovich said he "hopes an investigation gets to the bottom of this."
"Bobby Cantrell is an extremely high-profile individual," Cvitkovich said. "I am not going to employ somebody who intentionally breaks the law. He has a Ph.D. He is a highly intelligent person, and he keeps peace in my East Chicago office."
A source said Cantrell is rarely in the office.
A Lake County grand jury last March looked into allegations of ghost employment. At the time, Cvitkovich said time cards were subpoenaed involving Cantrell. The probe involved allegations Cantrell had recruited a couple of felons to run in the East Chicago clerk's race on public time.
Mrvan said Cantrell's job title as "inter-agency liaison" reportedly pays $38,000 per year.
Louis Karubas, a retired supervisor of the North Township trustee's office, remembered a day four years ago when Cvitkovich told him Cantrell was going to be a field investigator -- a position typically overseen by Karubas. He recalled hearing this introduction: "Listen, Cantrell is here. And he's a brilliant man. And you better know that."
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