HAMMOND | Acting U.S. Attorney David Capp's office is set to announce new public corruption indictments today.

A press advisory from the Hammond-based federal prosecutor did not disclose the newest target of his office's Operation Restore Public Integrity, an effort by state and federal authorities that has secured more than 30 convictions of public figures in the last five years.

It will be the first public corruption indictment since Capp was named to replace former U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen, who took over as a U.S. District Court judge earlier this year.

Capp is a veteran in the public corruption arena, having been an interim U.S. Attorney before and having directed Operation Restore Public Integrity for years.

Under Capp's tenure, grand juries have indicted dozens of East Chicago and Gary city officials and Lake County officeholders for a variety of charges, including misappropriation of public funds, bribery, extortion, fraud and ghost employment.

His office has most recently concentrated on the Gary Urban Enterprise Association, a defunct nonprofit organization whose officials have admitted using the group's tax-exempt status to profit themselves and others.

Gary attorney Willie Harris, Lake County Councilman Will Smith Jr. and former county tax collector Roosevelt Powell are on trial this week in Hammond federal court on charges they fraudulently used GUEA in a scheme to steal public money.