Hammond, Indiana – In a shocking turn of events, Keith Soderquist, the Mayor of Lake Station, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and tax evasion. The indictment, returned in Hammond Federal Court, alleges that Soderquist, along with his wife Deborah Soderquist, conspired to commit wire fraud in connection with financial transactions involving the Mayor’s campaign finance account and the Lake Station Food Pantry account.
According to the indictment, the Soderquists allegedly used these accounts to obtain cash for personal expenses, including gambling activities at casinos in Indiana and Michigan. The indictment also charges both Keith and Deborah Soderquist with filing false tax returns for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012, as they failed to disclose the money they took from the campaign and food pantry account that they converted to their own personal uses.
The second indictment names Keith Soderquist, Deborah Soderquist, and Miranda Brakley, a former employee of Lake Station. Brakley is charged with theft of funds from Lake Station from August 1, 2011, through July 31, 2012, and bankruptcy fraud for failing to disclose certain payments received from Lake Station on her bankruptcy schedules.
The Soderquists are charged as accessories after the fact, for allegedly assisting Brakley in order to hinder and prevent her apprehension, trial, and punishment. The indictment also alleges that the Soderquists structured a series of financial transactions in order to avoid the reporting requirements under federal law.
United States Attorney David Capp stated, ‘These indictments are part of this office’s ongoing public corruption investigation. Today’s indictments were the result of an extensive investigative effort by the FBI, IRS, and ISP. This investigative team will continue to investigate allegations of abuse of the public trust.’
The Soderquists and Brakley are expected to surrender to authorities at the Hammond federal courthouse on Thursday morning. This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Indiana State Police. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Kolar and Philip Benson.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Defendant: Keith Soderquist
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, filing false tax returns
City and State: Hammond, Indiana
Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: Awaiting trial
Dollar Amounts: $15,000
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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