Combating Public Corruption
East Chicago Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO)
In 2004, then Attorney General Steve Carter filed a racketeering lawsuit naming 27 East Chicago individuals and contractors as defendants - including former Mayor Robert Pastrick and mayoral aide James Fife III. The lawsuit alleged Pastrick and Fife poured public funds into politically motivated concrete-paving and tree-trimming projects on private properties in order to boost Pastrick’s chances in the 1999 mayoral primary election. Not only was the bidding illegal, but the massive project drained the East Chicago city treasury of approximately $24 million. The first-of-its-kind lawsuit, filed under the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations or RICO statute, named the city government of East Chicago itself as a corrupt enterprise. Current Attorney General Zoeller inherited the case from Carter in January and has continued to prosecute the civil RICO.
Events of March 11, 2010
Ruling - State of Indiana v. Pastrick, Opinion and OrderEvents of June 30, 2009
Latest opinion by the Indiana Supreme Court
Events of May 26, 2009
Proffer by the State of Indiana filed May 14, 2009, outlining the State’s case
State of Indiana’s motion for default judgment against Robert Pastrick and James Fife III
Settlement agreement and affidavit of Dr. Timothy Raykovich
Below are links to relevant sources of information
The State’s Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
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