HAMMOND, Ind. (AP): A northwestern Indiana food bank has suspended its contract with another food bank following its director's indictment on federal charges.



An 11-count indictment alleges that Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, improperly used money from the city's food pantry and his re-election campaign at local casinos.



Deborah Soderquist is director of the Greater Hammond-Lake Station food pantry.



The Times of Munster reports (http://bit.ly/1hcDGbE ) that the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana suspended its contract with the Lake Station food pantry following the Soderquists' indictments.



Defense attorney Scott King says the couple “never touched a penny” of money from the city's food pantry fund, as the government alleges.



The Soderquists are accused of cashing a $300 check intended for the food pantry before going to a Michigan casino.