Gary man pleads not guilty to federal child porn charges

HAMMOND | A Gary man charged with receiving and viewing child pornography using a web-based bulletin board pleaded not guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court.

Gary man pleads not guilty to drug dealing, firearms charges

HAMMOND | A Gary man caught up in a sweeping indictment of the Black Disciples street gang pleaded not guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court.

M'ville man set to stand trial in August on firearm charge

HAMMOND | A federal magistrate set an Aug. 5 trial for a Merrillville man charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Former E.C. library director sues city claiming firing political

HAMMOND | Former East Chicago Public Library Director Manny Montalvo sued Mayor Anthony Copeland in U.S. District Court on Thursday, claiming he was fired from his position for political reasons.

Man sues Lake County Jail, sheriff for alleged ill treatment

HAMMOND | A semi-quadriplegic man serving time for robbery at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City is pressing ahead with a lawsuit against Lake County officials over his treatment during his incarceration at the Lake County Jail.

Gary man gets 10 years for robberies

HAMMOND | A Gary man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 10 years in prison for his role in nearly a dozen armed robberies.

ArcelorMittal patent case to be reviewed in district court

EAST CHICAGO | ArcelorMittal Steel continues to press its patent rights in federal court over the use of its Usibor-AS aluminum silicon coated product.

Hammond councilman agrees to plead guilty plea in federal court

HAMMOND | Hammond City Councilman Al Salinas reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors Thursday involving bribery and tax charges.

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.

Gary man gets more than six years in prison for robberies

HAMMOND | Jeremiah Stevenson will spend the next six and a half years in federal prison for his role in three robberies.

M'ville businessman sentenced to probation for tax evasion

HAMMOND | A local business owner won’t see any jail time despite his guilty plea to federal tax evasion charges this week.

Second suspect in Austgen death investigation possible

GRIFFITH | New details emerged Monday in the investigation into the homicide of 76-year-old Mary C. Austgen, including the possibility of a second suspect.

Chesterton man gets two years in prison for identity theft

HAMMOND | A 38-year-old Chesterton man was given two years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to felony aggravated identity theft.

6 local men arrested in drug, gun sweep on South Side

CHICAGO | Six local men are among 17 members or associates of the Black Disciples street gang arrested this week in a federal drug dealing and gun sweep centered on the Altgeld Gardens area on Chicago’s South Side.

Police uncover new clues in Austgen slaying

GARY | Police have new clues in the investigation of the killing of Mary C. Austgen, 76, of St. John, who was found dead of a gunshot wound inside her vehicle parked in the Majestic Star Casino garage March 29.

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Former NFL player's father found guilty of not reporting money from son

HAMMOND | The father of former NFL star Eugene Wilson II was found guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court of scheming to avoid legal reporting of money he received from his son.

Court confirms ArcelorMittal high-strength steel patent

EAST CHICAGO | Don’t tread on ArcelorMittal Steel’s patent for its Usibor aluminum product.

Federal appeals judge blocks portions of Indiana's immigration law

INDIANAPOLIS | A federal appeals judge issued a ruling Friday blocking portions of Indiana’s immigration law and declaring it unconstitutional.

Robert Cantrell's bid for appeal denied

HAMMOND | Former North Township supervisor Robert Cantrell won’t be allowed to appeal his fraud and income tax convictions, according to a ruling Friday in U.S. District Court.

Proposed trash-to-ethanol plant runs out of gas

SCHNEIDER | The proposed trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider apparently has run out of gas, financially speaking.

Gary store owners indicted for food stamp fraud

GARY | The operators of Moses Foods, 1330 Broadway, Gary, are accused of using the U.S. government’s food stamp program to reap more than $400,000 in cash benefits.

Purported Latin King member pleads guilty

HAMMOND | A sweeping racketeering case involving the Latin Kings street gang had its final defendant in custody plead guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Hammond.

Former Merrillville attorney sentenced in perjury case

CHICAGO | Former Merrillville attorney Fred Cuppy will spend a year and a day in federal prison following a perjury conviction involving a scheme to hide the wealth of a hospital official.

Former Markham deputy police chief faces charge of aggravated sexual abuse

CHICAGO | Markham’s former deputy police chief was arrested Thursday on a federal charge of aggravated sexual abuse.

Rodovich turns chapter on long legal career

HAMMOND | Don’t mention the word “retirement” to U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Rodovich, even if he is transitioning to a reduced caseload and now collecting a pension.

Gary man faces 10 years in prison after guilty plea

HAMMOND | A Gary man faces up to 10 years in prison after reaching a plea agreement with federal authorities on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records.

Schaap's former student sends letter to court on his behalf

HAMMOND | Letters in support of former First Baptist Church of Hammond pastor Jack Schaap continue to arrive at the desk of U.S. District Court Judge Rudy Lozano, who will sentence Schaap on March 20 for having sex with a 16-year-old church member.

Former lawyer may face prison for perjury

CHICAGO | Former Merrillville attorney Frederick Cuppy faces sentencing next month on a federal charge of perjury in a scheme to help hide the wealth of a corrupt former hospital executive in an offshore trust.

Judge to review porn of Lake Village man before sentencing

HAMMOND | In sentencing offenders on child pornography charges, federal authorities consider there are many degrees of child pornography, depending on the level of depravity and violence associated with the images and videos.

Philpot supporters inundate court with letters

HAMMOND | Fifty family members, longtime friends, former podiatry patients, neighbors, business associates and political leaders have written letters to a federal judge in support of former Lake County official Tom Philpot seeking leniency as he faces sentencing on five counts of embezzlement.

Chicago jail guard, a Portage man, indicted on bribery charges

HAMMOND | A 51-year-old Portage man is accused of taking bribes in his position as a guard at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.

Two men, one from Gary, indicted in separate cases

HAMMOND | Federal authorities returned an indictment for bank robbery Thursday against a 45-year-old Gary man.

Federal court sets trial dates for 2 Northwest Indiana men

HAMMOND | Trial dates were set for two Northwest Indiana men Wednesday during separate appearances in U.S. District Court in Hammond.

Cal City, Flossmoor residents charged with unemployment benefit fraud

CHICAGO | Two south suburban residents are among 32 Illinois people indicted on federal charges related to receiving false unemployment benefits, Gary S. Shapiro, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced Wednesday.

Gary man indicted on charges linked to crack cocaine, pot

HAMMOND | A 32-year-old Gary man was indicted in U.S. District Court this week on one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Gary man indicted on charge of felon in possession of gun

HAMMOND | A 24-year-old Gary man was indicted Thursday on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Gary men indicted in robbery of Hammond bank last month

HAMMOND | Two Gary men were indicted on bank robbery charges Thursday in U.S. District Court in Hammond.

Former Lake County sheriff's officer seeks lighter federal prison sentence

HAMMOND | Facing 46 months in prison for his part in a firearms scheme, former Lake County sheriff’s police Officer Edward Kabella cites a variety of mitigating factors in seeking a lighter sentence, according to a memorandum filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond.

Hobart man indicted in federal drug, immigration investigation

HAMMOND | A 44-year-old Hobart man was indicted Thursday on four counts of distribution of cocaine and one count of being an illegal alien.

Local students' essays earn them spots at Obama's inauguration in D.C.

HAMMOND | The city of Gary is sending some of its best and brightest people to the presidential inauguration this week.

Former attorney loses lawsuit against Lake County Jail, sheriff, others

HAMMOND | Numerous county officials and departments are off the hook as defendants in a far-reaching civil rights lawsuit brought by former attorney Robert Holland.

Former Baptist church pastor asks court for lenient sentence

HAMMOND | Former First Baptist Church of Hammond pastor Jack Schaap cited a litany of mitigating factors in a sentencing memorandum filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Hammond in advance of his Jan. 15 sentencing on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor.

South Holland podiatrist sentenced in fraud scheme

CHICAGO | A suspended South Holland podiatrist will serve 18 months in a federal prison for his part in a health fraud scheme.

Michigan City restaurant must pay $20,000 in harassment lawsuit

SOUTH BEND | Settlement of a second sexual harassment lawsuit will cost a Michigan City restaurant operator $20,000.

Hammond deli robber headed back to prison for gun offense

HAMMOND | A Gary man convicted in the 2009 robbery of a Hammond delicatessen will serve another stint in prison.

Lynwood lauds boy who alerted family to fire

LYNWOOD | With a shrug of his shoulders and a shout of “No!” 4-year-old Ronon Thomas offered his thoughts on whether he’s a hero for alerting his family to a fire that destroyed their mobile home at the Alpine Village complex Saturday.

Seven Gary high school students to attend Presidential Inauguration

HAMMOND | Among those attending the upcoming Presidential Inauguration will be seven high school seniors from Gary who submitted some of the most principled and passionate ideas about improving their city.

Inauguration trip will give seven Gary students glimpse of government

HAMMOND | Among the crowd attending the upcoming presidential inauguration will be seven high school seniors from Gary who represent some of the most principled and passionate ideas about improving their city.

Texas man sentenced, was indicted with Chicago men

HAMMOND | A LaPorte, Texas, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hammond to 60 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.