Municipal Bribery Takes Down Cook County Mayor, Vendor

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: Federal Indictment Charges Former Mayor of Markham with Pocketing Bribes While in Office in Exchange for Steering City Work to Vendors CHICAGO — The former mayor of south suburban Markham solicited and … Continue reading

Bribers Can Do Business in Chicago, But Not with Illinois State Government

From the Chicago Tribune Thursday morning summary: Emanuel administration clears bribe-paying red-light camera vendor to bid on city contracts once again. Chicago is open for business for businesses who have bribed city officials. That is so different from what Illinois … Continue reading

Undercover Sting Leads to Recorder’s Clerk Pleading Guilty to Accepting Bribe

A  press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: Former Clerk at Cook County Recorder of Deeds Admits Accepting Cash Bribe in Exchange for Preparing Fraudulent Real Estate Deed CHICAGO — A former clerk for the Cook County Recorder of Deeds … Continue reading

More Chicago City Council Corruption Flushed Out by FBI Sting

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: ALDERMAN’S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF PLEADS GUILTY TO ACCEPTING $7,500 BRIBE IN EXCHANGE FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR LIQUOR LICENSE CHICAGO — A former chief of staff for an unnamed Chicago alderman pleaded … Continue reading

Could the Feds Do More to Clean Up the Illinois Corruption Problem?

Considering that local State’s Attorneys seem to be hamstrung when they go after fellow officeholders, perhaps my title is too harsh. After all, throughout my lifetime, it has been pretty much the U.S. Attorney’s Office and newspapers that have gone … Continue reading

Indictments for Bribery in No Child Left Behind-Mandated Tutoring

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: NILES-BASED EDUCATION FIRMS AND EXECUTIVES INDICTED IN ALLEGED $33 MILLION FRAUD; BRIBES ALLEGEDLY PAID TO FOUR SCHOOL OFFICIALS CHICAGO — The federal government and more than 200 public school districts in 19 … Continue reading

Chicago Federal Judge: “It’s Not Business as Usual to Bribe Public Officials”

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: NEBRASKA EXECUTIVE SENTENCED TO 21 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR FEDERAL BRIBERY CONSPIRACY WITH FORMER CHICAGO ALDERMAN CHICAGO — The head of a large Nebraska-based prescription medication provider was sentenced today to 21 … Continue reading

Appointed Chicago State Rep. Derrick Smith Arrested by Feds for Accepting a Bribe

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: (The Criminal Complaint, which really provides insight into this dark alley of Chicago politics, can be found here.) STATE REP. DERRICK SMITH ARRESTED ON FEDERAL BRIBERY CHARGE CHICAGO — Illinois State Rep. … Continue reading

Why the U.S. Attorney Wants to Keep George Ryan in Jail

This is a long one and for that I apologize. But I want to have the basics of the U.S. Attorney’s case against former Governor George Ryan on McHenry County Blog and this seemed a good way to put it … Continue reading

Nygren-Franks Relationship Goes Both Ways

McHenry County Blog reported on Republican McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren’s involvement with Democrat State Representative Jack Franks’ fund raiser. Apparently the relationship is reciprocal. Over the transom, so to speak, comes the silent auction sign-up sheet below: It is … Continue reading

Building Inspection Bribry Continues in Crook County’s Chicago

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago has issued the following press release. Below it, I have posted the details of the investigation. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think this case deserves a blue ribbon at the Crook … Continue reading

Another Chicago Democratic Party Alderman Indicted – Issac Carothers This Time

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s press release is below and you can read Ike Carothers official biography here: CHICAGO ALD. ISAAC “IKE” CAROTHERS AND GALEWOOD YARDS DEVELOPER INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES ALLEGING BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION IN RE-ZONING OF 50-ACRE WEST SIDE … Continue reading