George Pabey is a former

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

East Chicago East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census. The city is home of the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, an artificial freshwater harbor characterized by industrial and manufacturing act ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. He was elected into office in an October 2004 special election, and assumed office in January 2005. On September 24, 2010 he was removed from office after being found guilty in a federal court of conspiracy and theft of government funds. One of seven children born to Puerto Rican immigrants, he became the city's first

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

mayor. His service to the city began in the capacity of

police officer A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

in 1972, and he was promoted to

Chief of Police Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the b ...

in 1990. He entered politics in 1999, winning a seat on the city's Common Council. His tenure as mayor began in 2005, after he defeated longtime mayor Robert Pastrick in a special election called after Pabey mounted a legal challenge to the 2003 Municipal Election results, alleging widespread voter fraud. There were allegations of fraud against Pastrick when absentee ballots appeared skewed in the 33-year incumbent's favor. Although Pastrick was never

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, other city officials were sent to jail in the ensuing federal investigation of misuse of public funds in an alleged vote-buying scheme frequently referred to as "Sidewalks for Votes". As a result of the Attorney General's suit, Pastrick and two former aids were ordered to repay $108 million in civil damages in March 2010. Attorney General Greg Zoeller said U.S. District Judge James Moody's decision marked the first time a city government had been adjudged a corrupt organization under federal racketeering laws. Pabey was indicted for misuse of public funds on February 3, 2010, and faces at least five federal counts. Pabey was convicted by a federal court jury on September 24, 2010 of conspiracy and theft of government funds. A sentencing date was not set. His attorney told local media after the verdict was handed down that he will appeal his client's conviction. City Controller Charles Pacurar was automatically named interim mayor under Indiana state law that requires elected officials convicted of criminal charges to step down from office. A Lake County Democratic Party East Chicago precinct caucus replaced Pabey with Anthony Copeland, until the 2011 mayoral elections. Pabey is married with two children.

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External links

Official biographyElection homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pabey, George Mayors of places in Indiana Living people

American people convicted of misusing public funds American politicians of Puerto Rican descent American police chiefs Indiana Democrats Indiana politicians convicted of crimes East Chicago, Indiana Year of birth missing (living people)