Study: Corruption in northern Indiana not as bad as thought

Northern Indiana may not be as corrupt as its reputation suggests, according to a new study.

The Post-Tribune of Merrillville reports that the University of Illinois at Chicago study compared the per capita rate of politicians convicted in federal court districts since 1976 — and the U.S. District of Northern Indiana didn't crack the top 15.

Illinois' Northern district, which includes Chicago, topped the list with more than 1,500 convictions, followed by the California district that includes Los Angeles and the New York district including Manhattan.

Northern Indiana also scored lower than expected on another list in the study, ranking 38th in a breakdown of convictions in all 91 federal court districts from 2001 to 2010. Indiana was tied for 16th for the fewest number of convicted public officials in the last decade.

Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub said the study reflects changes in recent years.

"If you see it enough, you should be smart enough to make sure it's not going to happen," he said. "We'll never change our image in Indianapolis, but we can change our image up here."

U.S. Attorney David Capp says the study is misleading because it doesn't specify what counts as corruption and may include minor infractions. U.S. attorneys have to submit reports on public corruption every year, and most of those reported in northern Indiana are elected officials. Capp said.

"I just know we have focused a great deal of attention on elected officials," Capp said. "And sadly most of them come from Lake County."

The study doesn't specify which cases come from Lake County, but the Post-Tribune found about 40 cases in the period from 2001 to 2010 of blatant public corruption by elected officials or government employees and appointees, which would account for almost half of the district's convictions in that time. Capp said he can only think of two people recently convicted outside of Lake County.

The Post-Tribune roughly estimates Lake County has a per capita rate of 0.81 convictions per 10,000 people. That would put the county's rate at more than double Indiana's and behind just three states and Washington, D.C., nationwide.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent for Northern Indiana Bob Ramsey said that shows the county has a public corruption problem. He said it's a habit that's been ingrained into the political world there.

"It's difficult to break," he said. "You constantly get into the same crimes being repeated."

Last fall, the county announced two new public corruption cases. Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot is accused of paying himself money he shouldn't have received while serving as the county clerk. He pleaded not guilty in that case, which is scheduled to go to trial in July.

Another case, involving three former Lake County Sheriff's officers using county information to illegally buy guns and sell them online for a profit, is currently awaiting sentencing.

"We still have an extensive ongoing public corruption effort, and we're going to continue it," Capp said.