Former Whiting mayor won’t serve jail time
Stahura gets probation, home detention
Editor’s note: This story did not run in its entirety in Thursday editions. It is being reprinted fully here.
Former Whiting Mayor Joseph Stahura will not serve time in jail for wire fraud and filing a false income tax return.
Judge James T. Moody sentenced Stahura to two years probation, one year home detention and a $7,500 fine at federal court in Hammond on Wednesday.
In September, Stahura pleaded guilty to the charges tied to the misuse of approximately $255,000 in campaign funds on gambling and personal bills since 2014, according to court records.
Stahura, an elected official for 35 years and mayor since 2004, entered into a plea agreement in August. His wife, Diane Stahura, 64, entered into a separate agreement acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to charge her with wire fraud, according to the statement.
The pair stole from Stahura’s campaign account to gamble — mostly at outof-state casinos — and paid credit card bills, income taxes, medical bills and provided support for their daughter, according to court records.
Wearing a suit and face mask, Stahura arrived holding hands with his wife. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, only Stahura, his attorney Kerry Connor, and at least three of his family members were inside the courtroom.
Prosecutor Philip Benson attended the hearing virtually and observers were able to watch the hearing from the jury assembly room. Two men sat in the jury assembly room to observe the hearing.
Speaking in a quiet voice, Stahura said he “sincerely apologize(s)” for his conduct and that he “deeply regret(s)” his actions.
“I’ve not only embarrassed my wife, my family, and the residents of Whiting, but everyone who believed in me,” Stahura said.
Moody asked Stahura if he had a gambling problem. Stahura said he did not, and that the last time he was in a casino was in November 2019.
“I like to gamble, but I don’t believe I have a problem,” Stahura said.
Connor said that Stahura has taken responsibility for his actions and that he paid back the majority of the money he took out of his campaign account. While it is true Stahura used the money he took to gamble and for personal expenses, “the issue is the misuse of the funds” not what it was spent on.
Stahura had been cooperative during the investigation and worked quickly to correct his wrongdoing, Connor said.
“He has made every effort to make right what he did,” Connor said.
Connor also said that she received about 130 letters from his family, Whiting residents and business owners and other officials that all addressed Stahura’s character and the work he did for Whiting as mayor.
Prosecutors pushed for jail time stating, in part, that
Lake County politicians have a history of being corrupt and should be held accountable, Connor said. But, Connor asked Moody to “impose a noncustodial sentence,” because Stahura’s crime didn’t rise to the level of crime — like accepting bribes — that other Lake County politicians have been found guilty of committing.
“Stahura’s conduct was wrong and illegal, but it didn’t impact his role as mayor, and I think that’s an important distinction,” Connor said. “Mr. Stahura’s conduct was significantly different that these other politicians.”
Benson said that “a fair amount of money wasn’t paid back until (Stahura) was caught.”
While Stahura’s crimes are different from other convicted Lake County politicians, Stahura “stole from his constituents” by taking funds from his campaign account and improperly reporting it.
“When you steal money from your campaign account, you’re stealing from people who put you in that seat,” Benson said.
Benson also presented Moody with a chart that compared Stahura campaign fund misuse to specific court proceedings of former Lake County politicians — like former Lake County Surveyor George Van Til, who served time for using his public office to run his reelection campaigns; and former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, who is currently in prison for bribery and wire fraud.
For example, Benson said that two days after Buncich was sentenced in January 2018 Stahura took about $2,000 out of his campaign account for personal use.
“This isn’t a bad decision in a single moment in time,” Benson said.
Benson did acknowledge that Stahura took responsibility for his actions and that, based on the character letters, Stahura was well respected in the community. But, Stahura let residents down when he used campaign funds for gambling and personal expenses.
“Having people like you is only part of the job as a politician, and he breached people’s trust,” Benson said.
Ultimately — based on the records filed, the letters written on behalf of Stahura’s character, and Stahura’s “genuine remorse and mental anguish” — Moody announced a sentence that did not include jail time.
“You’re different. I’ve handled numerous corrupt Lake County politicians. You’re the first to show remorse for what you did,” Moody said.
David Sabotka, a Whiting resident, attended the sentencing hearing and said he was pleased with the sentencing.
As someone who has donated to Stahura’s campaign since the start of his political career, Sabotka said he didn’t feel betrayed by Stahura’s campaign spending “because of what he did for Whiting.”
Had Stahura received a prison sentence “it’d be a shame and a disgrace to the city of Whiting and a great man,” Sabotka said.
“He’s a hard working guy. He loves Whiting. It’s a shame that Whiting lost a great mayor,” Sabotka said.