01292004 - News Article - Investigations scorecard - ROBERT CANTRELL

Investigations scorecard
NWI Times
Jan 29, 2004
nwitimes.com/news/local/investigations-scorecard/article_83b6e5bf-3cd6-524b-9afa-91f50d8cfff9.html
INDICTED
Jan. 22: Otho Lyles III, president of the Gary Sanitary District Board, president of Gary/Chicago International Airport Board and demolition inspector for the Gary Redevelopment Department, with lying to the FBI about his relationship with politically connected Gary businessman Jewel Harris Sr. and their influence over demolition and debris-hauling contracts.

Jan. 22: Carl Paul Ihle Jr., co-owner with Kevin Pastrick of Sand Creek Sales, with forging documents and lying to mislead a U.S. Labor racketeering department investigation into bribery of Gerry Nannenga, a carpenter's union official, to invest $10 million in Coffee Creek, a Porter County land development.

Sept. 4: Peter Manous, former Indiana Democratic chairman, and Kevin Pastrick, son of East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick, with paying $45,000 in kickbacks to Nannenga.

Sept. 4: East Chicago City Engineer Pedro Porras, East Chicago Parks Superintendent Jose Valdez Jr., East Chicago City Councilman Frank Kollintzas, East Chicago City Councilman Adrian Santos, East Chicago City Councilman Joe De La Cruz and East Chicago city controller Edwardo Maldonado with conspiring to win votes in the 1999 primary election by spending $20 million in city money to improve private property with new sidewalks and driveways, to trim and remove trees.

CONVICTED
* Gerry Nannenga, an official of the Northwest Indiana District Council of Carpenters, for accepting $45,000 in kickbacks in 1998 from Kevin Pastrick, son of East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick, and Peter Manous, former Indiana Democratic chairman, to invest $10 million in Coffee Creek land deal in Portage.

* Peter Benjamin, former Lake County auditor and assessor, for paying $4,000 in bribes to Lake County Councilman Troy Montgomery to be hired in 1998 and receiving more than $260,000 in law fees.

* Troy Montgomery, for accepting Benjamin's bribe

* Katie Hall, Gary city clerk, for extorting more than $19,000 in campaign contributions and personal gifts from office employees from 1989 until her resignation in 2003.

* Junifer Hall, chief deputy Gary city clerk and daughter of Katie Hall, for extorting contributions for her mother.

RECORDS SEIZED
December 2003: Federal investigators demand records connected to Gary Mayor Scott King and two political lieutenants, Otho Lyles III and Jewel Harris Sr., and their dealings with the Gary School District and the Gary Redevelopment Department.

November 2003: Federal investigators seized North Township property records for former Carpetland building on Calumet Avenue in Munster.

October 2003: Federal investigators subpoena 23 properties in North Township, which all were represented by Tax Assessment Professionals, the now-defunct corporation once owned by Peter Benjamin.

May 2003: A federal grand jury demands North Township records linked to allegations of fraudulent property tax refunds.

March 2003: A Lake County grand jury subpoenas time card records from the North Township Trustee's office for Robert Cantrell, accused of doing political campaigning on public time.