Chicago, Illinois corruption trials

Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski gets on an elevator to leave the County Building in 2019.

Jeff Tobolski's 'web of corruption' deserves 5½ years in prison, feds say

The former mayor of McCook admitted in 2020 that he shook down a restaurant owner and engaged in other extortion and bribery schemes.

By Jon Seidel

Ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker leaving the Dirksen Federal Courthouse Tuesday after being found guilty of bribery conspiracy.

ComEd Bribery Trial

Feds want more than 4.5 years for ex-ComEd lobbyist convicted in Madigan conspiracy

Politics

Michael Madigan sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for corruption convictions

Michael Madigan, former Illinois House speaker, sentenced to 7.5 years in prison

Politics

Michael Madigan is being sentenced Friday. Here's what you need to know.

USA vs. Michael Madigan

Michael J. Madigan was the longest-serving state House speaker in the nation. In 2022, he was charged with leading a criminal enterprise designed to enhance his political power and generate income for his allies and associates. He was found guilty of a bribery conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud.

Chicago Corruption Trials

Trump's on a pardon spree, prison looms for Madigan, and Blago wouldn't wish sentencing on his 'worst enemy'

Michael Madigan’s sentencing hearing will cap the most aggressive, expansive corruption investigation in Chicago since the days of Rod Blagojevich. But many wonder: Would President Donald Trump grant clemency?

By Jon Seidel and Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Politics

With Michael Madigan’s sentencing for corruption coming, friends write hundreds of letters urging leniency

“A gentleman.” “A rule follower.” “Mr. Integrity.” As the feds seek a prison sentence for the former Illinois House speaker, supporters paint Madigan as a good man who “made mistakes.”

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

Chicago Corruption Trials

Feds say Michael Madigan should get 12½ years in prison

Madigan wielded the speaker’s gavel in Springfield for 36 years. Now he’s bracing to learn his fate June 13, when he’s due to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Blakey. The hearing comes four months after a jury convicted Madigan in an historic verdict.

By Jon Seidel

USA v. Paul La Schiazza

Paul La Schiazza once served as the president of AT&T Illinois. In 2022, he was accused of conspiring to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to benefit the utility. He has pleaded not guilty.

Former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza laughs with attorney Jack Dodds as they walk out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after La Schiazza’s birbery trial ended with a hung jury on Thursday,

USA v. Paul La Schiazza

Judge to rule in mid-December on whether to acquit a former AT&T exec accused of bribing Mike Madigan

In September, a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case against former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza.

By Sophie Sherry

USA v. Paul La Schiazza

Judge not ready to retry former AT&T Illinois exec accused of bribing Mike Madigan

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman on Tuesday said he first wants to take a “serious look” at a motion for acquittal from ex-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza.

By Jon Seidel

USA v. Paul La Schiazza

AT&T jury hangs up — mistrial declared in case of former exec accused of bribing Madigan, weeks before ex-speaker's own trial

Federal prosecutors heading into the biggest Chicago corruption trial since the days of Rod Blagojevich faced another setback Thursday.

By Jon Seidel

USA v. Edward M. Burke

Edward M. Burke was the longest-serving member of Chicago’s City Council. But in 2019, a grand jury accused him of using his Council seat to steer business to his private law firm. He was found guilty of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion.

Flanked by attorneys, developer Charles Cui (center) walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being sentenced to 32 months in prison, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

USA v. Edward M. Burke

Developer convicted with Ed Burke gets 32 months in prison — eight more than Burke

The jury that convicted Burke in December found developer Charles Cui guilty of bribery and lying to the FBI.

By Jon Seidel

Former Ald. Ed Burke and his wife Anne Burke enter a waiting car outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after he was sentenced to two years in prison Monday.

USA v. Edward M. Burke

Ed Burke's legal team silent as deadline passes to appeal corruption case

U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall told Burke at the end of his sentencing hearing last month that he’d have 14 days to appeal. Nothing has been filed.

By Jon Seidel

U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall pets her Bernese mountain dogs Birdie and Junebug, with a federal seal visible in the background, in the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

Chicago Corruption Trials

'Unique' longtime jurist Virginia Kendall set to become next chief judge of Chicago's federal court

Kendall most recently made headlines with the two-year prison sentence she handed to former Ald. Edward M. Burke. Kendall’s ascension and replacement of outgoing Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer are dictated by law.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Timothy Mapes served for decades as the chief of staff to then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. He was accused of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice for a bid to block the feds’ Madigan investigation. A jury found him guilty on both counts and agreed that he lied on every occasion identified by prosecutors.

Flanked by attorneys, Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to Illinois’ former House Speaker Michael Madigan, walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, after being convicted of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.

USA v. Timothy Mapes

Madigan’s ex-chief of staff should get up to 5 years in prison for lies ‘calculated to thwart’ probe into former boss, feds say

But lawyers for Tim Mapes argue their client should be sentenced to time served, supervised release and “significant” community service.

By Jon Seidel

USA v. Timothy Mapes

Three women who brought #MeToo allegations against Madigan circle find relief and hope in guilty verdict of ex-top aide

The women went public with accusations of harassment, retaliation and cover-up by Madigan and those around him. Although the trial focused on charges that Mapes lied to a grand jury, the women say the verdict will still send a message to other victims.

By Tina Sfondeles and Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes Dirksen Federal Building Chicago Illinois

USA v. Timothy Mapes

Jury takes 5 hours to convict Madigan’s ex-top aide of perjury, attempted obstruction of justice: ‘This should stand as a clear message’

Tim Mapes, the former chief of staff to onetime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, is the seventh person to be convicted by a federal jury in Chicago this year as a result of public corruption investigations.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. James Weiss

Businessman James Weiss, son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, was accused of paying bribes to state lawmakers to advance legislation. Weiss was found guilty of wire and mail fraud, bribery, and lying to the FBI.

Chicago Corruption Trials

Feds say ex-state Sen. Terry Link deserves probation after helping uncover bribery scheme

A 10-page memo Tuesday offered few new details about Link’s cooperation or crime, but it showed the value of Link’s undercover work to the feds.

By Jon Seidel

Chicago Corruption Trials

Former state Sen. Terry Link asks judge for probation after wearing wire on fellow lawmaker

Link testified that he’d withdrawn money from his campaign account and “used some for gambling.” He also told jurors that “I was helping a friend who was in dire need.”

By Jon Seidel

James T. Weiss is shown outside the Dirksen Federal Building after being sentenced.

Chicago Corruption Trials

James T. Weiss gets 5.5 years in prison for bribing 2 state lawmakers, lying to FBI

The judge spent part of the businessman’s sentencing hearing asking about Chicago’s persistent graft, saying to a prosecutor, ‘Why does public corruption keep happening?’

By Jon Seidel

ComEd Bribery Trial

Four power players were accused of trying to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to benefit ComEd. The four were found guilty.

Clockwise from upper left: Michael McClain, Anne Pramaggiore, Jay Doherty, John Hooker

ComEd Bribery Trial

Judge tosses 4 of 9 counts in ComEd bribery case in wake of Supreme Court ruling

U.S. District Judge Manish Shah left intact the conspiracy conviction and other counts against the four defendants, convicted of an illegal effort to influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as ComEd legislation moved through Springfield.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd Bribery Trial

Trump order should put ComEd bribery case on hold, defense argues

Defense attorneys are pointing to a Feb. 10 executive order from President Donald Trump pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The president’s order says the law’s use has been “stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States.”

By Jon Seidel

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in the Loop after his trial, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.

Chicago Corruption Trials

Federal judge to end Madigan-related criminal case against AT&T Illinois

The deal was modeled after a similar one issued in 2020 to electrical company ComEd. ComEd was spared prosecution after cooperating with the feds and paying a $200 million fine.

By David Struett

Chicago Corruption Trials

ComEd Scandal Timeline

A look at some of the key players involved in the case and the trial, and a timeline of key events leading up to it, as outlined in court records.

USA v. Annazette Collins

Annazette Collins was a former state lawmaker accused of cheating on her taxes in an indictment related to the investigation of former House Speaker Michael Madigan. A jury found her guilty of filing false tax returns for certain years and failing to file in others.

Former state Sen. Annazette Collins walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse for her trial for tax charges on Wednesday.

Chicago Corruption Trials

Former Illinois lawmaker gets a year in prison for cheating on her taxes

Ex-state Sen. Annazette Collins told the judge that she “let the voters down” and is “determined to never be in this situation again.”

By Jon Seidel

Chicago Corruption Trials

Ex-lawmaker convicted of cheating on taxes, in a case tied to corruption probe that led to Madigan indictment

Jurors, deliberating over two days, found her guilty on four of six counts. Collins was acquitted on one count that she failed to file a corporate income tax return for her lobbying firm for 2015, and another count that she filed a false individual tax return for 2018.

By Jon Seidel

Former state Sen. Annazette Collins walks outside the Everett M. Dirksen Courthouse in the Loop on Feb. 7, 2024.

Chicago Corruption Trials

Feds say ex-lawmaker found job selling insurance — where she was caught submitting bogus policies

The disclosure came Friday after Annazette Collins signaled she would testify during her ongoing trial on charges she dodged nearly $100,000 in taxes. She later changed her mind and decided not to take the stand.

By Jon Seidel

USA v. Alex Acevedo

Alex Acevedo, a son of former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, went to trial on tax charges related to the investigation of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Alex Acevedo was found guilty.

25th Ward aldermanic candidate Alexander “Alex” Acevedo speaking with the Sun-Times Editorial Board last month. File Photo. | Rich Hein/Sun-Times

La Voz

Son of former state Sen. Eddie Acevedo gets 2 months for filing false tax claims

Alex Acevedo’s prison term is longer than the one-month sentence handed to his brother but shorter than the 6 months his father got. Both were also found guilty of tax violations.

By Andy Grimm

Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St.

Politics

Son of ex-state Rep. ‘Eddie’ Acevedo goes on trial, fights tax charges tied to Madigan probe

Alex Acevedo, his brother Michael Acevedo and their father were charged with cheating on their taxes in indictments in February 2021. Edward Acevedo pleaded guilty in December 2021 to tax evasion, was sentenced to six months behind bars and was released last month.

By Jon Seidel

Crime

Son of former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo found guilty on tax charges

Alex Acevedo, his brother Michael Acevedo and their father were each charged with cheating on their taxes in separate indictments handed up in February 2021.

By Jon Seidel

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Chicago Corruption Trials