A former employee of the Calumet Township Assessor received a year and a day in federal prison Friday over charges she extorted five business owners.
Pamela Griffin Frizzelle, 54, of Merrillville, pleaded guilty to three counts of Hobbs Act Extortion, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office. Frizzelle was accused of soliciting money from business owners in exchange for reducing or attempting to reduce tax assessments for personal and real property.
Frizzelle admitted to receiving cash from business owners, including $800 to assist a laundry mat owner illegally obtain a refund for prior years, the release said. Court records said she also backdated documents and convinced her supervisors that the appeal was legitimate, which resulted in a refund of more than $7,000.
The indictment claims Frizzelle used her position to entice five businesses to pay her a total of $3,800 for help in lowering their personal property taxes. In addition to prison time, she must pay $7,178.00 restitution to Lake County Assessor’s Office, court documents stated.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.