Omnisource Corporation indicted by grand jury

A Marion County grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment charging the Omnisource Corporation with corrupt business influence and receiving stolen property. The charges stem from raids at six scrap yards in Indianapolis in February 2009.

Earlier this month, the company sued Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, seeking the return of $277,000 seized in those raids. The scrap metal recycler, a unit of Fort Wayne-based Steel Dynamics, is accused of knowingly buying stolen scrap metal between June 2007 and May 2009 – a time when prices were rising.

Omnisource lawyer Larry Mackey said it didn’t happen and attributes the investigation to an effort by Brizzi, to improve his chosen successor’s campaign standing. Brizzi is not seeking re-election.

Omnisource employed more than 50 off-duty Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers as security guards.

The officers are not accused of criminal wrongdoing, but one high-ranking officer was demoted and the case has prompted the department to change its policy on moonlighting by officers.