Former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich was sentenced to 188 months in prison for his role in a corruption and bribery scheme that dated back to 2014. Buncich, 72, of Crown Point, Indiana, was also ordered to pay $800 in restitution and a $250,000 fine.
Buncich was convicted in August 2017 of six counts of a superseding indictment, including five counts of Honest Services Wire Fraud and one count of violating the federal bribery statute. The scheme involved Buncich awarding towing contracts to individuals who made cash and check payments to him and his campaign committee, known as Buncich Boosters.
The scheme was devised from February 2014 to October 2016, during which time Buncich was the sheriff of Lake County. Buncich’s then-Chief of Police, Timothy Downs, and William Szarmach, the owner of CSA Towing, were also involved in the scheme. Downs and Szarmach have pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme and are awaiting sentencing.
According to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Thomas L. Kirsch II, ‘Today’s sentence sends a strong message that betrayal of public trust will not be tolerated.’ Kirsch added that ‘all citizens deserve public officials who act honestly and who work for the public interest and not their own interest.’
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation agents investigated the case, which was the result of a 14-day jury trial. The jury found Buncich guilty of all six counts of the superseding indictment.
Buncich’s sentencing was handed down by District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody on an unspecified date. The exact date of the sentencing was not provided in the press release.
Defendant: John Buncich
Criminal Charges: Five counts of Honest Services Wire Fraud, one count of violating the federal bribery statute
City and State: Hammond, Indiana
Date: August 2017 (conviction), unspecified date (sentencing)
Sentence: 188 months in prison, $800 in restitution, $250,000 fine
Dollar Amounts: $800 (restitution), $250,000 (fine)
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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