Two M'ville residents charged with kidnapping, use of firearm

MERRILLVILLE | A man who thought he was meeting an acquaintance from an online dating site was instead allegedly being set up to be kidnapped and robbed.

Veteran police officer sues Crown Point mayor, police chief

CROWN POINT | A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges Crown Point officials sought to have a veteran police officer fired over a challenge from the FOP about an appointee to the board of works.

Feds seek nine years for Gary man for crack cocaine dealing

HAMMOND | The United States attorney's office is seeking a nine-year prison term for a Gary man it said distributed an ounce of crack cocaine each week for six months.

Gary woman, 51, pleads guilty to wire fraud counts in scam

HAMMOND | Eloise Blackmon, 51, of Gary, pleaded guilty Thursday in a plea agreement related to a real estate hustle that allegedly siphoned at least $600,000 from lenders.

Indiana to appeal injunction halting abortion law

INDIANAPOLIS | Attorney General Greg Zoeller will appeal a federal judge's order that put Indiana's law defunding Planned Parenthood on hold.

Former Gary officer guilty in beating; victim awarded $850K

HAMMOND | A federal jury has awarded a Gary man $850,000 for injuries he suffered in a 2007 arrest by city police that left him partially blind.

Local children of incarcerated parents suffer sentences of their own

Billie Chette and her husband, John, had planned to meet on a Wednesday for an ultrasound appointment to check on her pregnancy. John called at the last minute, apologizing and saying he had to do a roof estimate. During his second call, John told Billie he loved her -- and that federal agen…

Man given 2 years probation in crack cocaine sale

HAMMOND | A federal judge sentenced an East Chicago man who distributed small amounts of crack cocaine to an undercover FBI agent to two years probation Tuesday.

Porter County man sentenced to more than 5 years in meth case

HAMMOND | Three phone calls landed a Hebron man in prison.

NWI holdups admitted in plea deal

HAMMOND | A serial bank robber entered into a plea agreement Friday, claiming responsibility for robbing banks in Hammond, Highland and East Chicago.

Pabey still pulling strings?

The FBI is investigating allegations former East Chicago Mayor George Pabey and City Council President Richard Medina are threatening retribution if precinct committeemen don't vote for Medina in the upcoming mayoral caucus, several sources told The Times.

Jupiter to pay more than $600,000 in fines

Hammond's Jupiter Aluminum Corp. will pay $664,000 in a settlement over disputed technical violations of a federal consent decree, according to federal court filings last week.

Attorneys don't expect Pastrick, others to be able to pay in full

The state doesn't expect Robert Pastrick and two co-defendants to cover the full $108 million civil judgment against them, but it wants to know what the former East Chicago mayor can afford.

Hammond brothers indicted on drug trafficking

Two brothers have been indicted on drug trafficking and other charges after a Homeland Security Investigations search of their Hammond residences revealed drugs, guns and more than $12,000 in cash.

Gary native held without bond in national ID theft case

A Gary native allegedly involved in a national fraud ring was denied bond Tuesday morning in federal court, making him the only one of at least seven indicted to be held pending trial.

At least four arrested in alleged national fraud ring

HAMMOND | The alleged scheme: Get individuals' personal and financial information, add your name to their bank accounts as an authorized user and cash checks and make purchases on someone else's dime.

Local, national efforts to prevent child exploitation

Attorney General Eric Holder announced a national strategy for preventing child exploitation Monday, and local efforts to prosecute crimes against children have been going on for years, according to northern Indiana's U.S. Attorney's office.

Kouts couple sentenced for aiding meth cooks

HAMMOND | A Kouts couple charged in a 2008 methamphetamine production sting in Porter County were sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison.