Former Lake County Sheriff Sentenced to Prison

Buncich (right) was indicted in November 2016. (photo courtesy our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana)

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A former Lake County Sheriff will spend more than 15 years behind bars. U.S. District Court Judge James Moody sentenced John Buncich after he was convicted on fraud and bribery charges.

Buncich was accused of illegally receiving money related to towing contracts. He was removed from office after a jury rendered a guilty verdict on six charges of wire fraud, honest services wire fraud and bribery.

Buncich was indicted in November 2016, along with his second-in-command, Timothy Downs, and towing company owner William Szarmach. You can read more about the case in The Times of Northwest Indiana.