Indiana official to plead guilty to tax assessment shakedown

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - A northwest Indiana assessor's office employee will plead guilty to allegedly shaking down businesses in exchange for reducing their tax assessments.

The Times of Munster reports (http://bit.ly/29Fr44H ) Pamela Griffin Frizzelle, of Merrillville, will plead guilty to three counts of extortion.

She was charged in September on seven counts of extortion in U.S. District Court for seeking at least $4,000 from business owners in 2014. Authorities allege she used her position in the Calumet Township Assessor's office to reduce or attempt to reduce the business' tax assessments.

Frizzelle faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She was fired last year.

Court documents state Frizzelle will admit she accepted money from a laundry mat owner in exchange for convincing supervisors to give the business an assessment reduction.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com