05292019 - News Article - Minimum sentence' sought for Porter County assessor

Minimum sentence' sought for Porter County assessor
Chicago Tribune
May 29, 2019
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-jon-snyder-sentencing-memos-st-0529-story.html

Federal prosecutors and the defense agree the Porter County Assessor, who was charged for failing to report information to the IRS, should get a minimum sentence.

Jon Snyder, 42, has pleaded guilty to failing to supply information to the IRS, a misdemeanor charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Benson said a judge should give Snyder “the minimum sentence” and defense attorney Matthew Fech is asking for a six-month term of probation.

Snyder, as owner of Shoreline Appraisals Inc., allegedly failed to give the IRS an “Informational Return 1099 Form, which is a requirement for non-employees who received more than $600 in payments during a calendar year, according to court documents.

Snyder and Shoreline Appraisals allegedly failed to file the document for “Person A,” who was paid more than $5,000 in 2013, according to court documents.

“Should the court impose the sentence as suggested by the defendant, this would allow him to continue to serve the citizens of Porter County, run his business and continue to provide from him, his wife and 10 children,” Fech said, in court filings.

Pleading guilty to a misdemeanor would not require Snyder to resign from office, according to state law.

As part of the plea agreement, Snyder agreed to testify against his brother, former Portage Mayor James Snyder, in his public corruption trial.

“Jon Snyder’s cooperation included not only making numerous recordings of John Cortina and his co-defendant, James Snyder, relating to bribery allegations, but the cooperation also included testifying in the trial of James Snyder,” Benson said, in court filings. “In addition to the above cooperation, Jon Snyder also provided helpful information in other criminal investigations.”

Snyder was convicted of after a 15-day trial earlier this year.

In February, a federal jury convicted James Snyder of bribery and obstructing the IRS, bringing an end to his 19-day trial. Snyder was convicted of taking a $13,000 bribe in exchange for contracts to sell five garbage trucks to the city, and using a shell company to hide income and assets from the IRS while owning back personal and business taxes.

James Snyder was found not guilty of allegedly soliciting a bribe, purported to be a loan to his campaign, in exchange to get John Cortina, of Kustom Auto Body in Portage, and “Individual A,” who was cooperating with the FBI, on the city’s tow list.

During the trial, Jon Snyder said that Cortina, who he described as a long-time friend, began talking to him about getting on the city towing list.

“I just didn’t like it,” Jon Snyder said, when he testified in January. “I tried to tell him to stop talking about it.”

Jon Snyder, who was already under federal investigation related to his personal business, said he didn’t want to get involved in any towing business and went to the FBI.

“I had enough going on in my life, I didn’t need another investigation,” Jon Snyder said, during court testimony.

05292019 - News Article - Porter Assessor Jon Snyder wants to be released on probation for tax fault

Porter Assessor Jon Snyder wants to be released on probation for tax fault
NWI Times
May 29, 2019
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/porter-assessor-jon-snyder-wants-to-be-released-on-probation/article_2c0baf6f-c4df-51cf-913f-e7ba57fe7588.html

HAMMOND  — Life could go on with little change for Porter County Assessor Jon Snyder under the sentence recommendations made this week over his federal tax violation.

Jon Snyder is asking a federal court judge to release him on six months probation June 4. Federal prosecutors agree he deserves leniency.

His defense attorney, Matthew Fech, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Benson made those favorable recommendations this week in court memos.

Fech tells the court a short probation “would allow (Jon Snyder) to continue to serve the citizens of Porter County, run his (private) business and continue to provide for him, his wife and 10 children.

Those are much brighter prospects than those faced by his brother, James Snyder, the former Portage mayor removed from office after a federal jury convicted him Feb. 14 for bribery and tax obstruction.

James Snyder now faces a lengthy prison term at sentencing Sept. 24.

The difference is Jon Snyder was a government informant. Jon Snyder informed on his brother to federal investigators and testified against his brother as a government witness earlier this year.

Jon Snyder also admitted his wrongdoing readily, saving the government the time and expense of putting him on trial.

He pleaded guilty Oct. 30, 2018 – less than two weeks after being charged with a misdemeanor count of failing to file a tax form with the IRS that he paid $6,000 in 2013 to an independent contractor in connection with Jon Snyder’s private business, Shoreline Appraisals of Portage.

His brother James Snyder has maintained his innocence. He plans to appeal his conviction.

James Snyder made the government prove its bribery and tax case against him with the testimony of 20 witnesses during a 19-day trial earlier this year.

Jurors found Snyder guilty of accepting a $13,000 bribe from former Great Lakes Peterbilt owners Bob and Steve Buha in exchange for some $1.25 million in garbage truck bids. They also found him guilty of a tax obstruction charge in which he was accused of creating a sham company to hide money from the IRS.

They acquitted Snyder of a third charge, alleging he accepted a $12,000 bribe from former co-defendant John Cortina and Samson Towing owner Scott Jurgensen, also an undercover FBI informant, to put the duo on the city's tow list.

Jon Sndyer, 42, had no prior criminal history. He has been the Porter County Assessor since his first election in 2010.

Voters re-elected an unopposed Jon Snyder last year to a new four-year term, a week after he had pleaded guilty to the tax misdemeanor. His current term runs until 2022.

Both his attorney and the federal prosecutor said Jon Snyder gave the government substantial assistance.

Jon had been cooperating since 2012 with federal investigators following probes into Jon’s own financial doings and an investigation into his county office over allegations that someone in the office was fixing assessment appeals.

Jon Snyder said he went to the FBI in 2015 to tell agents about possible bribery involving his brother and Cortina.

The federal prosecutor said Jon Snyder’s cooperation with the government included wearing a wire and making numerous recordings of Cortina and James Snyder. He testified for two hours during his brother’s trial earlier this year.

James Snyder has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing, saying the money paid to him was legitimate campaign contributions.

Attorneys for James Snyder have asked the court to overturn James’ bribery and tax conviction. Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen has yet to rule on their motions for a new trial.

Cortina pleaded guilty Jan. 11 to paying a bribe to the former Portage mayor. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 7.

05262019 - News Article - Portage government works to regroup, rebuild after Snyder conviction

Portage government works to regroup, rebuild after Snyder conviction
NWI Times
May 26, 2019
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/portage-government-works-to-regroup-rebuild-after-snyder-conviction/article_06695716-8d78-5f49-b07c-6ab47427ed7e.html

PORTAGE — Indicted former Mayor James Snyder left behind scores of unpaid invoices, feuding city departments, massive voids in communication, and key positions — such as the fire chief — unfilled.

In the wake of that chaos, city officials are trying to regroup and recover from an administrator who was on his way to a federal prison sentence. One of the big questions to be addressed, Mayor John Cannon said, is "how do we get the message out that this is going to be different?"

Immediately after Snyder's conviction on Feb. 14, Council President Sue Lynch, D-at large, assumed the role of interim mayor.

“I knew the minute the conviction came out I had to get over to City Hall and start putting all these plans in place,” Lynch said.

John Cannon, then the Republican 4th District Councilman, was expected to become the new mayor after his party caucused March 2, so he worked closely with Lynch.

“Sue and I met on the 14th (of February) and from then on we worked side-by-side for the next 10 days,” Cannon said.

“I knew in a matter of two weeks he would be taking over, so we tried to get everyone on board so everyone knew what was going on,” Lynch said.

One of the priorities the two made was meeting with department heads and hashing out concerns they had. These meetings would often last for hours, providing insight on what needed to be done.

“I think that went very well. Every department head was there and their assistant,” Lynch said. “We listened to all of their concerns.”

Fifth District Councilman Collin Czilli said Lynch's presence for those two weeks was the first time they had someone working in the mayor's office effectively in four years.

Opening the channels
When Cannon was sworn into office, he said he wanted to continue that open dialogue, saying transparency was one of his key goals.

Czilli said he and most other council members had a good working relation with Cannon.

"He was on the City Council for six years with a majority of us serving for three years. John responds to emails. You can talk to him. Having someone who's responsive is a massive improvement.”

Canon takes it in stride.

“It's just who I am. I try to let everyone know what is going on. When I can, I think every question that can be answered should be,” he said.

Lynch and Cannon remain in frequent contact with each other.

“Generally at noon every Thursday, John and I have lunch together to discuss city business,” Lynch said. “He is in charge right now and some of the decisions he makes wouldn't be what I would do as mayor, but we are coming together and keeping each other informed.”

Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham, a Democrat, approached Cannon asking that meetings between their respective offices be scheduled every Friday.

“I spoke with the mayor's office before the trial, but once things got heated, they just kind of stopped,” he said. “I talked to John and said I wanted to set these up and we've been doing it ever since.”

In the interest of transparency, Cannon posts on YouTube weekly video addresses where he discusses city plans and events.

“Our main question was 'how do we get the message out that this is going to be different'?” Cannon asked. “We want the public to ask questions."

Cannon found it more affordable than a newsletter and much easier for citizens to engage on social media. He said the engagement online has been promising, with thousands of views on the videos every week.

Budget challenges
Communication isn't the only challenge facing city officials. City finances have been in disarray since the indictment. 

“Things started falling through the cracks," Czilli said. "There was a road project that didn't get wrapped up in time that could have cost us $2 million in state dollars. Luckily we figured a way out of that after (Snyder) was out of office. (At another point) we owed the state back $130,000 for wheel tax matching funds. (The mayor's office) overspent the money and the state wanted it back.”

Lynch said nothing was done to get the fire department new gear, a yearly expense that totals roughly $30,000.

Stidham said that was more a case of a lack of money in the appropriate funds.

“The City Council pays bills based upon what line the item is on in the budget,” he said. “The mayor and the clerk-treasurer need to communicate to ensure money isn't overspent.”

Cannon said a priority will be to make sure all are paid and current.

"We're working hard on the budget process," Cannon said.

"I've been speaking with the clerk-treasurer on what funds we have available and make sure we have everything in the right place."

Upcoming election
While Lynch and Cannon have worked together to remedy problems, they're opponents in the November General Election for the mayor's job.

“We are both very well aware we are opponents in this race, too, but we have pretty much tried to stay to city business when we are getting together for lunch,” Lynch said. “I am also the council president, so he needs to communicate with me for that reason as well.”

In a recent council meeting, Cannon announced he and Lynch would not let politics interfere with city business.

“The city is first, the campaign is second,” he said. 

05262019 - News Article - Restaurant ignites controversy by covering image of convicted former Portage mayor

Restaurant ignites controversy by covering image of convicted former Portage mayor
NWI Times
May 26, 2019
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/restaurant-ignites-controversy-by-covering-image-of-convicted-former-portage/article_ae5474c3-ab34-58f9-acec-073444a5de80.html

PORTAGE — A local Applebee's Grill + Bar restaurant has sparked controversy by covering a portion of an inside mural that contains the image of former Mayor James Snyder, who is awaiting sentencing following his federal public corruption conviction.

An American flag and a POW/MIA flag were moved to cover the image of not just Snyder, but also current Police Chief Troy Williams and current and retired members of the police department.

The restaurant posted a printed explanation next to the flags that says in part, "There is a lot of controversy with this mural still being on this wall."

The restaurant explains that Snyder is no longer mayor and some customers do not wish to see his picture on the wall. Other customers are angry because images of police officers were covered along with Snyder.

"We have not intended to show disrespect to our law enforcement officers," the sign reads. "Until we can remove the mural, we will not promote Mr. Snyder in the mural."

A manager at the restaurant late Sunday morning declined comment and referred all questions to the corporate office. The contact person was not immediately available for comment.

When contacted Sunday for comment, Williams said, "I suppose I don’t really care what they do with their own building, but a phone call from management probably would have been appropriate."

"The original photo is (Lt.) Ross Haynes, myself, Snyder, (Lt.) Joe Mokol and retired assistant chief Bill Mesich," Williams said. "In my opinion I believe it’s a bit tacky to cover them all up; none of the officers in the photo have done anything wrong. So Applebee’s has now unnecessarily made it seem like its local officers are somehow guilty of something."

Snyder declined to comment Sunday on the mural controversy, replying instead with an email that included two attached documents from his federal case and the short message: "You must be bored. Have a nice Memorial Day Weekend."

Snyder was convicted of two charges Feb. 14 following a 19-day trial. He was convicted on one court of bribery for accepting $13,000 from the former owners of Great Lakes Peterbilt in Portage in exchange for steering more than $1 million in contracts for garbage trucks toward the company.

He also was found guilty of one count of federal tax obstruction. The two counts carry a total of up to 13 years in prison. Snyder was acquitted on one count of bribery in an alleged pay-for-tow scheme.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 24.