11182016 - News Article - Buncich Behind Bars, Portage Mayor Snyder to Surrender Later Today

Buncich Behind Bars, Portage Mayor Snyder to Surrender Later Today
NWI Gazette
November 18, 2016
http://nwigazette.com/2016/11/buncich-behind-bars/

At a press conference this morning United States Attorney David Capp confirmed that Lake County Sheriff John Buncich and Chief of Police Timothy Downs were both arrested earlier today.

Additionally, Portage Mayor James Snyder has been indicted and is scheduled to surrender later today.   William Szarrmach, owner of CSA Towing,  was also arrested.  John Cortina, owner of Kustom Towing in Portage, was also indicted and is scheduled to surrender later today. US Attorney David Capp declined to comment on why Buncich, Downs and Szarmach were arrested while Snyder and Cortina were allowed to surrender.  Mr. Capp did say that his office had conversations with attorneys for Snyder and Cortina regarding their surrender.

UPDATE: Sheriff Buncich and Chief Tim Downs were arraigned and released earlier today.  Sheriff Buncich issued a statement saying
"The Sheriff's Department is continuing to run as normal.
There has been no disruption of any operations. The proud men and women of the Lake
County Indiana Sheriff's Department continue to serve and protect our citizens."

The indictments against Buncich, Downs and Szarmach are not available at this time.  The US Attorney’s office held a press conference outlining a scheme of pay-to-play regarding payments made from towing contractors to Downs and Buncich.  “The indictment details a number of checks and cash payments, often collected by Downs, from Szarmach and an Individual A in exchange for Buncich awarding county towing business and towing in the City of Gary for ordinance violations.

Individual A is the owner of a tow truck business who voluntarily came forward and cooperated with the United States during the course of this investigation” according to a written release provided by Capp. “Buncich is alleged to have corruptly solicited, and received, over $25,000 in cash and $7,000 in checks in exchange for favorable actions by Buncich regarding towing contracts” the statement continues.

The Indictment of Mayor James Snydert contains three allegations. “Snyder is alleged to have corruptly solicited and received two checks totalling $12,000 from Cortina and Individual A, in exchange for towing contracts with the City of Portage” according to Capp. “Snyder is also charged with a second violation of the federal bribery statute. That count alleges that between January 1, 2012 and January 10, 2014, Snyer corruptly solicited and agreed to accept a public bank check in the amount of $13,000 in connection with Portage Board of Works contracts, a Portage Redevelopment Commission project and other consideration.” Finally, Snyer is charged with engaging in “an alleged scheme, . . . between January, 2010 and April 2013, to obstruct and impede the IRS’s collection of personal taxes he owed and payroll taxes owed by his mortgage business, First Financial Trust, LLC (FFTM). Snyder is alleged to have diverted funds away from FFTM to a sole proprietorship he created” according to the statement.

United States Attorney David Capp stressed that this investigation is ongoing and more indictments will come. Mr. Capp urged any citizen with information regarding public corruption to contact the FBI at 219-769-3719 or his office directly at 937-5601.

A criminal charge is not evidence of guilt.  All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.