Robert Cantrell's trial set for May 27

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BY JOE CARLSON
jcarlson@nwitimes.com
219.933.3364 | Friday, May 16, 2008 | (10 comment(s))

HAMMOND | The trial of political insider Robert Cantrell is scheduled to begin with jury selection May 27.

Cantrell appeared in federal court in Hammond Friday for his final pretrial conference.

The trial is expected to last three and a half weeks and to include more than 30 witnesses.

One of the government's star witnesses is Hammond attorney John Cantrell, Robert Cantrell's son.

Defense attorney Kevin Milner, who represents Robert Cantrell, called his client's son, "an important witness."

Robert Cantrell, 65, of Schererville, was charged in April 2007 with 11 counts of defrauding the public of honest services while working for a public entity. He is also accused of defrauding an insurance company by having a township contractor insure two of his adult children and failing to report kickbacks he received from the contractor for work he steered to them.

The allegations center around Cantrell's dealings with township contractor Nancy Fromm, who owned Hammond-based Addiction and Family Care and has publicly admitted to paying Cantrell a "referral fee" for township business.

Another person on the witness list is convicted former North Township Trustee Greg Cvitkovich. Robert Cantrell worked for Cvitkovich when he led the North Township Trustee's poor relief office.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry asked if any pleas or admissions were expected. Milner said no.

"There is a tape recording that the government plans to play but I wouldn't put it in that category," Milner said.

Robert Cantrell ran the East Chicago Republican Party on and off for several decades beginning in the 1960s before becoming a Democrat in 2003. He has served as a political advisor to other Republican-turned-Democrat Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., a former law partner of John Cantrell.

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years ago wrote on Jun 5, 2008 11:36 AM:

" I was born the same year as Bobby Cantrell. I all of my 65 years I have never stolen anything from anybody. I taught my children to be honest and fair. Can Cantrell make the same statement? If the courts can't make him pay for his misdeeds, rest assured God will. He will be the camel trying to squeeze through the eye of the needle.
What a wasted disgraceful life. "

bye bobby wrote on May 19, 2008 11:58 AM:

" don't forget, you get an hour every day out in the yard for exercise. enjoy your stay! best tax money I ever spent will go for providing you with 3 hots and a cot. "

OH BOY wrote on May 18, 2008 2:45 PM:

" Hey Bobby,
You are charged with defrauding the public out of honest services. To bad that you are not Gus Kouros, you would have never been charged. "

Humpty Dumpty wrote on May 16, 2008 4:17 PM:

" sat on a wall and Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

I have a feeling that several prominent politicians will be joining Bobby in the slammer. See ya Mr. McDimwit among others!!! The entire Cantrell clan is as crooked as it gets. They should all be locked up, including judge julie! I wonder how many defendants she sentenced to rehab in the place her father was getting kick backs from? "

G Davis wrote on May 16, 2008 4:16 PM:

" just wait the trial of the century is coming up,and wait till you se the results!HE walks.You don't think He is going to be convicted do you?Remember when Cvitkovich wanted to give Wicker park Golf course to Micheal Jordan for $1 Dollar a month?Then in 20 years He would give it back with all the improvments for free?And these are the types of people who run our Government in Northwest Indiana!By the way who's the judge Julie! "

BSCADC wrote on May 16, 2008 4:13 PM:

" Robert Cantrell is on of the most arrogant men that I have ever met in my life. While in East Chicago, he seemed to have flaunt his political "juice". However, you are innocent until proven guilty. Somehow, he will prance around the courtroom feeling like a "Tamanny Hall" favorite. It's time to rid ourselves of the cronyism and move forward. East Chicago and the rest of Lake County deserves a breathe of fresh air. Please let justice be served. "

Ring Around The Rosie wrote on May 16, 2008 3:06 PM:

" They call it Generational Corruption - They are all holding hands and some residents cannot see it. "

WoW wrote on May 16, 2008 2:28 PM:

" can anyone see why the "political machine" we call NWI is so corrupt? "

R wrote on May 16, 2008 1:59 PM:

" I think Cantrell is being set up and/or taking the fall of the former mayor of East Chicago. Something is fishy about this whole thing. "

HUh wrote on May 16, 2008 1:29 PM:

" Um...can someone explain why would the government have John as a star witness? "

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