Northwest Indiana Discussion

"In the wake of recent FBI activity in Lake Station, political activist and former county surveyor candidate Eric Krieg planned to call on the Lake County Board of Elections to refer Mayor Thomas McDermott’s campaign finance reports to the office of United States Attorney David Capp. Krieg will have to wait until the Board meets in December to present his allegations as this month’s meeting was cancelled. In a statement provided to the press prior to the planned meeting, Krieg compared McDermott’s payments to his wife with the recent conviction of Former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. He outlines several allegations of impropriety in the reports including:

-Payments to Kelly Consulting, Inc. of over $300,000. The payments ranging from $3,000-$4,000 per month span a period of over ten years. Krieg alleges that Kelly Consulting, Inc. is owned by Marissa McDermott and that Indiana law requires a written contract on file with the election board in order to pay family members for campaign services;

-a one time consulting fee paid to David Woerpel. This payment is alleged to have been in the amount of $6,000 and paid around the time that Woerpel was charged with a crime in Lake Superior Court;

-A single payment of rent for McDermott for Mayor Headquarters in the amount of $1,000. Krieg alleges that free rent should be reported as an in-kind donation on the finance report.

Krieg explained that the contributions to Kelly Consulting, Inc continue in non-election years. The address for Kelly Consulting is listed as 7134 Knickerbocker, Hammond, IN 46323. Documentation was provided from the office of the Indiana Secretary of State showing that Marissa McDermott is listed as President of Kelly Consulting, Inc. Total payments to Kelly Consulting from the McDermott campaign for the years 2005 to present totalled just over $330,000.

The lack of payment to Kaplan controlled Pyramid Development may be the most damaging allegation. As reported previously, Pyramid Development is owned by McDermott friend and contributor Greg “Krazy” Kaplan. Kaplan later sold the building to the Purdue University Foundation for a reported $1M. Politically connected WJOB radio has announced that they will move into the building sometime next year. So far, they are the only announced tenant. While not illegal on its face, the entire transaction certainly seems to require some explanation. To date, we have heard none."


You can see Mayor McDermott’s 2011 campaign report here: http://lwvcalumet.org/files/cfb.mcdermo ... al_rpt.pdf

WOW !!!

http://www.northwestindiana.com/discussionforum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9226&start=135&sid=a261e1b1c933f34a6e22c9454eca0074


at the end of the post, you can find a copy of Craig's written complaint.

I think Tom and company very well may have some problems.... ala jessie jackson jr.

Sweet!

Well, now that the Lake County Election Board has voted to dismiss Krieg's charge, it's only right that the matter goes straight to the Feds. Kevin Smith, close ally to McDermott, appointed Joe Allegretti as his proxy! Joe and Senior go way back. Doesn't Joe still work for the Hammond sanitary district? Someone has been paid more than 300 grand to fill out forms. Someone paid a grand rent for a million dollar property. The board says "Move along. Nothing to be seen here."? Nothing but the fix.

Krieg has a serious credibility problem. But, since that doesnt mean too much to fed prosecutors, it is a good bet Krieg has already supplied this info. So why hasnt Benson and company moved on it?

One of the votes that was cast to reject any questioning into Junior's campaign spending was by a proxy held by Joseph Allegretti. I wrote earlier that Tom Sr. and Joe go way back. Not only do they go way back, but they can wave back to one another without leaving home. See, both Tom and Joe own multi-million dollar homes across the street from one another, a street which they share with Dean White, a Forbes 400 lister. Remarkable that no scarring is evident from where Tom and Joe were surgically separated after being joined at the hip for so long. I know how White made his fortune and I have an idea how Joe did, but I can't for the life of me figure what good fortune fell on Sr. to chum with these swells.

I heard, some people, 3rd party, I was told, your posts are so full of nothing that if wasn't for there comical relief they wouldn't be worth reading. You have been spouting the same crap since before Oscar got whooped and you still have nothing. Nothing zilch nada bupkis. Merry Christmas you...

So using that logic you are the front man for the "Feds" posting on here to get us all indicted for some trumped up B.S. Problem is in all the years you have been posting for the feds you still have nothing, zilch, nada, bupkis a big fat zero and now your latest hero struck out too. It must suck top be you Chuck.

Who is the "us" you speak of? Are you yet another public figure abusing the public trust? Your spelling errors have all the signs of a post being composed on a smart phone.

It was expected that the Dems on the election board would vote for McDermott. But how do you explain the Republican votes? Bill Fine's position was as impotent as his defense of Janiec. Keep in mind, the flaw in the election board's case against Janiec was exposed on WJOB talk radio BEFORE the high court ruled. Indeed, it hastened the court's review.

As for Krieg, he seems far too rabid to take serious. McDermott's has fully anticipated Krieg's animus and allegations. Child's play, really, for team Mac. As to the feds, you guys have been saying this for years now, in complete denial of the swiftness with which the feds moved on Pabey, Philpot, Van Til etc.

After viewing some of the online video of the hearings, Krieg had neither the skill or political weight needed to seek the Election Board to investigate McDermott and his campaign financing issues. Some of McDermott's actions or lack of them are substantial and Krieg obviouslly didn't understand the process, hell neither did I, and neither did one of Jr's atty's Westmoreland (sp). Hell me made s*** up as he went along and did the very same thing Krieg did, make statement of fact with out supporting documents, but this short coming was disregarded by the board.



The same board went after Janiec, Markovich and Penski (sp?), simply used as a tool by McDermott. Half of the board should have recused themselves, either as working for McDermott doing legal issues. As to the lone Republican vote, what can you expect from a blond, a bottle blond at that.

Exposed on WJOB, please, your kidding me. What hastened the Supreme Court's review was the blatant disregard of the law by the Election Board's toxic illegal actions barring Janiec.

As to the feds, all you can do is provide them with data and conversations with additional info. They walk and talk in their own world, you should know that as well.

Fact, someone I know was involved in a case back in 2008 a horrendous case, 40 plus people involved. The Feds just arrested the final 3 characters last month. Go figure.

As to Fed involvement. HUD has been in town at least four times, warning tom, how hud funds were lost because of pass thru funds laundered how the money was used. Then the made a formal written report, establishing sanctions, barring participation. The last State Audit had more of the same, their next step is criminal investigation. HUD has their own assigned FBI unit.

We know the while collar crime guys were in town helping Salinas and Johnson. They also talked with JR twice and another time because of something he said on the radio. Now why would they be listening to a law abiding, two bit politician like jr and then call him in just because of something he said on the radio, unless they were wanting to give him an all expense paid vaaaaaaacation?

Then we have Christine Cid's comments of Tom offering a job to Cid for a vote. Sure Tom would never do that, really. Some believe Cid may have some special motivation to share information with the feds. Some one told me to pull the records from the end of the first day of Philpot's trial.

Now as to the feds activity, since 2010, I think they have been very busy, but they missed the "us" XMPT referred to in one of his post.

Their recent investigation in Lake Station, with a new mayor, hell Hammond has been pulling the same s***, contractors dont want to bid in town, as favored contractors, place a low ball bid, and then someone in Tom's office give them a 25% increase in project cost. Its because these boys pay to play. A legitimate contractor gives an honest bid, does the same thing and he's told to eat it. People don't want to do business in Hammond. Difference, Tom has been mayor for 11 years, no where else to point other than to Tom or Phill, not that Phill, the other Phill. I don't think at his age he wants to spend time away from his lovely wife. What ever happened to that restaurant he and the coffee man was to open?

As to contractors loving Hammond, Tom had to reportedly pay up front for a relative of a dear very, very, very close friend of tom's to build two $200,000 homes in Hammond. WTF

Neo, they got 20 people in the last five years....... I think they have been plenty busy.