Latest news with #Merrillville-based
Chicago Tribune
06-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Civics workshop and trauma conference
The Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association has announced the appointment of Teresa (Teri) Wallace as treasurer to the board, according to a release. Wallace, a managing partner with Merrillville-based Wallace Consulting LLC, holds degrees in business administration, human services and psychology and has served on NWIIWA's board for two years, the release said. Wallace is a member of the National Association of Tax Professionals and the National Association of Enrolled Agents. Indivisible NWI will host the MadVoters group for a workshop to explain civics and how government works from 6-7:30 p.m. July 31 in Portage, according to a release. The goal is to teach how government can work for all citizens, the release said. The interactive event is limited to 50 participants at the Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. For more information, visit the Indivisible NWI Facebook page or email President@ The 258 finalists for the 14th annual Influential Women Awards have been announced, according to a release. Influential Women alumni and industry leaders evaluated each nomination and chose this year's finalists from 517 nominees, the release said. The Influential Women Awards Banquet will take place on Sept. 25 at Avalon Manor in Merrillville. During the awards banquet, two winners in each of 13 different industry categories will be chosen from the list of finalists. Visit to view finalists. Franciscan Health is partnering with multiple healthcare organizations from around the Great Lakes for a three-day regional trauma care conference, a release said. The Great Lakes Regional Trauma Conference is scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 20-22 at the Stardust Event Center, 777 Blue Chip Drive in Michigan City. The conference is aimed at healthcare professionals from throughout the Great Lakes and any other professionals involved in providing trauma care. Continuing medical education (CME) hours are available. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Sponsorship information, the full agenda, registration and hotel information are available online. Registrations must be complete by Aug. 15. The Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association will welcome Jennifer-Ruth Green, Indiana Secretary of Public Safety and Executive Director of the state's Department of Homeland Security, for a breakfast event from 8-9:30 a.m. July 18 at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond, a release said. Green will share practical, transformative strategies to help professionals lead with clarity, confidence and purpose, the release said. Green is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was appointed Secretary of Public Safety and IDHS executive director in January 2025 by Gov. Mike Braun. To register for the event, visit Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, and Methodist Hospitals recently announced the healthcare provider's strategic investment in Philips' advanced portfolio of image-guided therapy solutions that integrate imaging systems and software, according to a release. Methodist Hospitals will use one Philips Azurion biplane for both routine and complex procedures — such as active stroke intervention — designed to speed up and improve minimally invasive treatment, the release said. Methodist Hospitals health system has more than 500 inpatient beds and more than 400 physicians and allied health professionals, the release said. Phillips is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Chicago Tribune
26-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
White receives probation in scheme to defraud rental assistance
A woman who pled guilty in a scheme to defraud the federal rental assistance program of a Merrillville-based not-for-profit agency has received probation. Along with 24 months of probation, Gloria White will be required to repay Geminus Corp. $177,800, United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon ruled at her Thursday morning sentencing in Hammond. White, 60, who entered a plea in November, initially was facing 21 to 27 months in prison. Simon told White he feels 'like a broken record' in dealing with cases involving public funds because he views them as a 'breach of public trust.' 'During the pandemic, when people were genuinely afraid, Congress finally did something to stem the tide of impending disaster and came up with this construct — rental assistance — to keep people in their homes,' he said. 'I'm really offended by this behavior of people taking advantage of these systems, and I think most fair-minded people feel the same way.' White and fellow employee Valencia Franklin were accused of misappropriating Emergency Rental Assistance funds destined to help renters hang on to their residences during the pandemic by creating false landlords to fraudulently request money from the program, according to an independent audit by an Indianapolis accounting firm. Geminus Corp. discovered discrepancies in its records which led to finding out about the potential fraud in July 2022, according to Bill Trowbridge, president and CEO of Geminus and its umbrella organization, Regional Care Group, the Post-Tribune previously reported. The nonprofit service agency based in Merrillville immediately contacted the U.S. Department of the Treasury and fired Franklin, as well as alerted the accounting firm that does its annual audit. The audit, released in January 2023, covered fiscal years ending in June 2021 and 2022. The $636,000 figure is what Geminus 'had strong suspicions' was fraudulent and reported to the feds and the agency's auditors, Trowbridge said. Geminus received $40 million in federal funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance program as a pass-through agency, distributing the money throughout Lake County during the pandemic. Franklin was sentenced to two years in prison earlier this month. Simon credited White's attorney, Luis Sanchez, for counseling her to 'do the right thing' and cooperating with the U.S. Attorney's office. 'When you're in a hole, you need to stop digging, and you did that,' Simon said. 'You've earned (probation as the sentence) through cooperation. 'You're a lovely woman who made a really bad decision — rarely do I see someone come before me with not so much as a parking ticket — but you do have the burden of being a convicted felon now.' White apologized to Simon, the court, her family, friends, community, and twin sister for her crime.
Chicago Tribune
03-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Former Geminus employee sentenced to two years for stealing federal funds
A former employee of a Merrillville-based not-for-profit service agency was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday morning after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in February. United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon sentenced Valencia Franklin of Lynwood, Illinois, to 24 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release in the U.S. District Court Northern Indiana in Hammond. Franklin, 52, was also ordered to pay $352,300 in restitution to Geminus Corporation, her former employer. Franklin was accused of misappropriating $636,000 in Emergency Rental Assistance funds destined to help renters hang on to their residences during the pandemic by creating false landlords to fraudulently request money from the program, according to an independent audit by an Indianapolis accounting firm. Geminus Corp. discovered discrepancies in its records which led to finding out about the potential fraud in July 2022, according to Bill Trowbridge, president and CEO of Geminus and its umbrella organization, Regional Care Group. The nonprofit service agency based in Merrillville immediately contacted the U.S. Department of the Treasury and fired Franklin, as well as alerted the accounting firm that does its annual audit. The audit, released in January 2023, covered fiscal years ending in June 2021 and 2022. The $636,000 figure is what Geminus 'had strong suspicions' was fraudulent and reported to the feds and the agency's auditors, Trowbridge said. Geminus received $40 million in federal funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance program as a pass-through agency, distributing the money throughout Lake County during the pandemic. During the often emotional hearing, Franklin's attorney, Adam Sheppard, pointed to the adversity Franklin overcame in her life and the fact that she 'didn't try to shift the blame' of her crime to anyone else as mitigating factors. Originally, sentencing guidelines had Franklin facing between 41 months and 51 months. 'Look at the adversity she's overcome: a teenage pregnancy, but then she got her GED, then her associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a (certified public accountant) degree,' Sheppard said. 'It was a crime of opportunity and greed, and she spent the money on basic needs. There were no luxury cars; she was supporting family and friends — her youngest son and her ailing mother, for whom she's the primary caregiver. 'She recognizes she's jeopardized her freedom.' Veronica Hill, Franklin's friend since they were in fifth grade, said Franklin has always 'given her all' to make sure everyone else was Ok. 'When we would play ding-dong ditch, Valencia wouldn't play because she was afraid of getting in trouble,' Hill said through tears. 'She has a fear of authority, and she wouldn't do anything to harm the government. It's not who she is.' In her statement to the court, Franklin — who wept through most of it — said she had 'no excuses' for 'the embarrassment she brought to her family and employer.' 'I was tempted by the easy way out. I failed my job, I failed my community,' she said. 'I let down a young, underprivileged lady, and she deserved better. So did everyone else I failed. 'I will carry the weight of that for the rest of my life. I'm not trying to escape punishment, but I'm asking for mercy.' Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Wolff agreed the case was sad, but said it was also intentional. 'She did the first one for her son, but then she did it again and again and again. It wasn't a passive scheme,' Wolff said. Simon said he has 'very little concern' that Franklin will ever re-offend, but he had to send a message to the community that stealing from the Federal government will not go unanswered. 'You used family members as props in a jaw-dropping level of criminality,' Simon said. 'And a year after, when you were supposed to send out 1099s for recipients of the money to report it to the IRS, you made efforts that they didn't receive them. You said you're ashamed — well, you ought to be ashamed. 'You were one of the few success stories of the system, and you've thrown it away. But you've totally owned this, which is important for getting it behind you.' Simon gave Franklin until 2 p.m. August 28 to report to prison, and he said he will see to it that she's close enough to family for their support. Franklin will likely receive 54 days of good behavior toward her sentence, meaning she'll serve 85% of her sentence, Sheppard said, after which she'll be moved to a halfway house to complete it. He was pleased with the outcome. 'Judge was very thoughtful with the sentencing, and he was considerate,' Sheppard said. Franklin and her family declined comment through Sheppard.
