08042004 - News Article - Update: Status of 12 people tied by federal investigators to East Chicago's 1999 $20 million paving program

Update: Status of 12 people tied by federal investigators to East Chicago's 1999 $20 million paving program

Post-Tribune (IN)
August 4, 2004 

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In East Chicago's 1999 $20 million paving program, city officials allegedly authorized the paving of driveways, patios and sidewalks in exchange for votes in the Democratic mayoral primary. The status of 12 people tied by federal investigators to the program follows: 

Those who maintain their innocence 

Frank Kollintzas City Council president 

Accused of being part of the scheme to use public money for paving on private property of Mayor Pastrick's supporters; also, lying to federal investigators. 

Trial scheduled for Oct. 4. 

Joe De La Cruz 

City councilman, former police department spokesman 

Accused of being part of the scheme to use public money for paving on private property of Mayor Pastrick's supporters; also, lying to federal investigators. 

Trial scheduled for Oct. 4. 

Adrian Santos 

City councilman 

Accused of being part of the scheme to use public money for paving on private property of Mayor Pastrick's supporters; also, lying to federal investigators. 

Trial scheduled for Oct. 4. 

Edward Maldonado 

City controller 

Accused of being part of the scheme to use public money for paving on private property of Mayor Pastrick's supporters. 

Trial scheduled for Oct. 4. 

Jose "Joe" Valdez 

Park Department superintendent 

Accused of being part of the scheme to use public money for paving on private property of Mayor Pastrick's supporters. 

Trial scheduled for Oct. 4. 

Pedro Porras 

City engineer 

Accused of being part of the scheme to use public money for paving on private property of Mayor Pastrick's supporters; also, lying to a grand jury and perjury. 

Trial scheduled for Oct. 4 

Randall Artis 

City councilman 

Accused of soliciting, directing 

and authorizing contractors and subcontractors for the concrete and tree-trimming work. 

Trial scheduled for Dec. 7. 

Terrance Artis 

Brother of Randall Artis and part-owner of A&A Enterprises 

Accused of receiving more than $1 million in no-bid contracts to pour concrete at the city's expense 

Trial set for Dec. 7. 

Those who've pleaded guilty: 

Robert Velligan 

Owner of Calumet Concrete and Masonry 

His firm performed concrete work. 

Pleaded guilty to under-reporting his income for 1999 and 2000 by more than $160,000. 

Sentencing set for Oct. 7. 

Dimitrios "Jim" Sazalis 

Owner of D&S Construction 

His firm was established to take advantage of paving work he could get from the city. 

Pleaded guilty to doing illegal paving work for the city. 

Sentencing set for Oct. 25. 

Gregory Gill of Lowell 

Owner of H&Y Maintenance 

His now-defunct firm poured concrete and removed trees for the city. Pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud and making false declarations on a tax return. 

Sentencing set for Sept. 10. 

Marilyn Gill 

Wife of Gregory Gill, whose firm, H&Y Mainten-ance did work for the city. 

Accused of overbilling the city $300,000 for removal of trees that didn't exist. 

Pleaded guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud.Sentenced to one year of supervised probation.