UPDATE: Sentencing for former Portage mayor's co-defendant in bribery scheme reset for June 7
NWI Times
March 26, 2019
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/sentencing-for-former-portage-mayor-s-co-defendant-in-bribery/article_2a2c72c4-2dd5-58f4-9177-6c305880e38e.html
HAMMOND — The fate of John Cortina, the former co-defendant of convicted former Portage Mayor James Snyder, won't be known until June 7.
U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen granted a request filed by federal prosecutors on Tuesday to continue Cortina's sentencing until after that of Snyder's.
Cortina, 79, owner of Kustom Auto Body in Portage, pleaded guilty in January to paying Snyder a $12,000 bribe to put himself and his partner, Scott Jurgenson, of Sampson Towing, on the city's tow list. Cortina's sentencing had been set for April 22.
The jury, which heard testimony for 19 days in the public corruption case, acquitted Snyder on the tow for pay charge.
Jurgenson has worked as an undercover informant for the FBI during an investigation of Snyder and other alleged Region pay for tow schemes.
The court filing asked the sentencing hearing be pushed back until "shortly after" Snyder is sentenced on May 24. Cortina's attorney agreed to the request, according to the document.
Snyder was found guilty on two charges on Feb. 14. He was found guilty on a second bribery charge involving receiving a $13,000 bribe for awarding contracts on city garbage trucks and on a federal tax obstruction charge. He could face up to 13 years in prison on those charges.
In other motions awaiting rulings, Snyder has asked for the jury verdict to be set aside and that he be acquitted on the two charges or that a new trial be ordered.
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