From the U.S. Attorney:
Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan Convicted on Federal Conspiracy and Bribery Charges
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago today convicted former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives MICHAEL J. MADIGAN on conspiracy and bribery charges for using his official position to corruptly solicit and receive personal financial rewards for himself and his associates.
Madigan, 82, of Chicago, was convicted on ten counts against him, including
- one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States,
- four counts of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity,
- three counts of wire fraud, and
- two counts of bribery.
The jury acquitted Madigan on
- four counts of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity,
- two bribery counts, and
- an attempted extortion count.
U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey declared a mistrial on six other counts for which the jury did not reach a unanimous verdict –
- one count of racketeering conspiracy,
- two counts of wire fraud, one count of bribery,
- one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and
- one count of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity.
The jury returned its verdicts against Madigan after a four-month trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Each wire fraud count is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each bribery count is punishable by up to ten years.
The maximum for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and each count of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity is five years.
Judge Blakey also declared a mistrial as to all six deadlocked counts against a co-defendant, MICHAEL F. MCCLAIN, 77, of Quincy, Ill.
McClain was charged with
- one count of racketeering conspiracy,
- two counts of wire fraud,
- one count of bribery,
- one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and
- one count of using interstate facilities to promote unlawful activity.
Evidence at trial revealed that Madigan, who served as House Speaker and occupied a number of other political roles, conspired with others to cause the utility company Commonwealth Edison to make monetary payments to Madigan’s associates as a reward for their loyalty to Madigan, in return for performing little or no legitimate work for the business.
The true nature of the payments was to influence and reward Madigan in connection with specific legislation ComEd sought in the Illinois General Assembly.
Madigan was also convicted of scheming to accept legal work unlawfully steered to his private law firm and his son by an Alderman of the Chicago City Council, in exchange for Madigan’s assistance in inducing the Governor of Illinois to appoint the Alderman to a compensated State Board position.
The verdicts were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Sarah E. Streicker, and Julia Schwartz.
