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Monday, June 02, 2008
Ind. Courts - More on "Intricate political web unravels at Cantrell trial"
Supplementing this ILB entry from Saturday, Andy Grimm of the Gary Post-Tribune has a long background story this morning on Robert Cantrell. Just a few quotes:
Monday, the trial of Lake County power broker Robert Cantrell enters its second week in U.S. District Court, with the longtime political operative facing charges of honest services fraud and insurance fraud and tax evasion.The Post-Tribune offers a primer. Who is Robert J. Cantrell and why should I care? * * *Now a close adviser to East Chicago Mayor George Pabey and County Clerk (and soon-to-be Coroner) Tom Philpot -- Cantrell had once been close with Pabey's hated rival Robert Pastrick and Philpot's nemesis, Sheriff Roy Dominguez.
His daughter, Julie, just won re-election as a Lake County judge, and his son, John, was once law partners with Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. He also had close ties to former North Township Trustee Greg Cvitkovich, who was convicted on corruption charges. * * *
The trial is scheduled to continue another two weeks, with the prosecution expected to put a long list of Lake County politicians on the stand.
If convicted, Cantrell could face prison time and would have to pay restitution to the IRS and possibly others.
But, upon release, he would probably have no trouble finding a job in Lake County.
Julie Cantrell, who handily won re-election this spring, is well-liked even by some of the many local pols who despise her father, and would appear to face no repercussions.
Her younger brother, John, had an immunity agreement with prosecutors, but some who watched his testimony wonder if the state Bar Association would have to consider disciplinary action based on his AFC income and fraudulent insurance coverage.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 2, 2008 08:55 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts