United States of America v. James Snyder

Chicago, IL 0 Federal Jury Convicts Mayor of Portage, Ind., on Corruption Charge for Pocketing a Bribe to Influence City Contrac



A federal jury convicted the mayor of Portage, Ind., on a corruption charge for soliciting and pocketing a bribe in exchange for influencing the awarding of city contracts.



The jury in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Ind., convicted JAMES SNYDER, 38, of Portage, Ind., on one count of bribery and one count of obstruction of internal revenue laws. The jury acquitted Mayor Snyder on one other bribery count. The bribery conviction is punishable by up to ten years in prison, while the obstruction count is punishable by up to three years.



The verdict was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Indianapolis office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The Indiana State Police provided valuable assistance. The prosecutors were supervised by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois after recusals by supervisory personnel from the Northern District of Indiana.



Evidence at trial revealed that from 2012 to 2014, Mayor Snyder corruptly solicited and agreed to accept a $13,000 check to influence the awarding of a series of city contracts, including more than $1.1 million in contracts approved by the Portage Board of Works.



The obstruction charge involved a scheme to impede the IRS’s collection of personal taxes owed by Mayor Snyder, and the collection of payroll taxes owed by Mayor Snyder’s mortgage business – Portage, Ind.-based First Financial Trust Mortgage LLC. While the IRS was attempting to collect these tax debts, Mayor Snyder secretly diverted funds from the mortgage business to a sole proprietorship that he created. Mayor Snyder submitted forms to the IRS that failed to disclose, among other things, the existence of the sole proprietorship and its bank account.

Charges:

18:666(a)(1)(B) CORRUPT SOLICITATION OF A THING OF VALUE and FORFEITURE ALLEGATION

(3)

26:7212(a) CORRUPT INTERFERENCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS

(4)

02/14/2019 252 JURY TRIAL (Day 19) as to James E Snyder held on 2/14/2019 before Judge Joseph S Van Bokkelen. Govt appeared by atty Philip Benson. Dft appeared by attys Jackie Bennett, Jayna Cacioppo, Vivek Hadley, Neal Brackett, Tom Dogan. Defendant present in courtroom. Defendant orally renews motion for directed verdict. Motion Denied with leave to supplement pending motion. Verdict of NOT GUILTY on Count 1 of the Indictment; Verdict of GUILTY on Counts 2 and 3 of the Indictment. Jury is polled with no change in verdict. Jury is discharged. The Court withholds entry of judgment until ruling on the pretrial motions. The Court will take Defendant's 245 Motion for Acquittal under advisement. The Court addresses forfeiture, Defendant waives right to contest the forfeiture in Count 2 of the Indictment. Defendant is referred to Probation Office for preparation of Presentence Report. Court will issue order regarding sentencing procedures. The Sentencing is set for 5/24/2019 at 11:00 a.m. (Central Time). The Defendant to file supplement to their Rule 29 Motion by 3/15/2019; The Government to reply by by 3/29/2019. Bond and conditions of release previously imposed on defendant shall remain in effect. (Court Reporter Ashley Stokes.) (jss) Modified on 2/14/2019 (jss). (Entered: 02/14/2019)

02/14/2019 Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings as to James E Snyder: Sentencing set for 5/24/2019 11:00 AM in US District Court - Hammond before Judge Joseph S Van Bokkelen. (jss) (Entered: 02/14/2019)

02/14/2019 253 ORDER as to James E Snyder Regarding Sentencing Procedures. Signed by Judge Joseph S Van Bokkelen on 2/14/2019. (jss) (Entered: 02/14/2019)

02/14/2019 255 Jury Note as to James E Snyder (jss) (Entered: 02/14/2019)

02/14/2019 256 JURY VERDICT as to James E Snyder (2) Guilty on Count 2,3. Not Guilty on Count 1. (jss) (Entered: 02/14/2019)