Indiana Political Insider’s Appeal Rejected; Charges Include Insurance Fraud

A federal appeals court has unanimously rejected a Lake County, Ind., political insider’s appeal of his fraud conviction and 6-year sentence.

The Times of Munster reports that the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago denied Robert Cantrell’s request for a rehearing among the three-judge panel and his request for a hearing before all the appellate judges.

The court rejected his earlier appeal in August.

Cantrell was convicted in 2008 on 11 counts of fraud and fraud-related charges alleging that he steered contracts to a third party in exchange for kickbacks. He was also convicted of filing false income tax returns and insurance fraud.

Cantrell has been involved in Lake County politics since the 1960s, including time as the Republican chairman in East Chicago.