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Archive for the ‘Crime’ Category

Jury finds Michael Madigan guilty of bribery conspiracy, wire fraud

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Politics, Springfield on February 12, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan enters the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

By Jon Seidel, Tina Sfondeles, Dave McKinney | WBEZ, Matthew Hendrickson

A federal jury has found former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan guilty of bribery conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud in a partial verdict announced Wednesday morning.

The news came nearly 65 hours into jurors’ deliberations in the case against Madigan, who broke records as the longest-serving state House leader in the nation before a widening federal corruption probe forced him from office in 2021.

The panel of eight women and four men listened to more than 60 witnesses and a full week of closing arguments before they began deliberating on the afternoon of Jan. 29. Jurors told the judge in a note Wednesday morning that they had reached a unanimous decision on 17 counts, but were unlikely to be able to agree on another 12.

“We have come to a unanimous decision on 17 counts,” the jurors told U.S. District Judge John Blakey. “We have tried our very best to come to a unanimous decision on the remaining 12 counts and have not been able to do so. It is our belief that this impasse will not be overcome.”

Madigan’s attorney Dan Collins suggested accepting the verdict on the 17 and moving for mistrial on the 12 other counts. Michael McClain’s attorney Patrick Cotter had a similar response.

Prosecutors said they were “amenable to taking a partial verdict.” Assistant U.S. Atty. Amarjeet Bhachu told the judge “the choice is totally” the jurors’ as to whether to return a partial verdict.

Read more here.

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Barrington Police post Sealcoating Scam notice

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Community Alerts, Crime on February 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“There have been reports of fraudulent sealcoating scams targeting elderly homeowners in our area. These scams often involve individuals or companies offering sealcoating services at unusually low prices, only to perform subpar or incomplete work. In some cases, they charge far more than the agreed amount or take the money without ever completing the job.

In addition to scamming homeowners with subpar work and inflated prices, these criminals have also been involved in burglarizing homes while the homeowners are distracted.

To help protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these scams, please consider the following crime prevention tips:

  1. Be Cautious of Unsolicited Offers
  2. Verify Credentials
  3. Get Multiple Estimates
  4. Avoid Paying in Full Upfront
  5. Research the Company
  6. Report Suspicious Behavior

If someone approaches you with an unsolicited offer for sealcoating or paving, and their actions seem suspicious, please call 911. This can help prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.”

Source

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Open borders and sanctuaries are driving Illinois’ migrant chaos, not Trump’s deportations

Posted in 220, Barbarian Migrants in Busses at the Gate, Board of Education, Crime, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, His Master's Voice, Immigration, One Barrington Hills, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, What the Ficke (Bradford)?, Wirepoints on January 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner | Wirepoints

“Chaos and confusion.” That’s what Gov. J.B. Pritzker claims President Trump is creating as he plans to deport from America illegal immigrants with criminal records. Some 530,000 illegal immigrants reside in Illinois, the nation’s fifth-most according to the Center for Immigration Studies. Pritzker says Trump might initially target as many as 2,000 immigrants in Illinois for deportation.

Many Illinoisans will be surprised by Pritzker’s claim given the chaos he’s created with his own staunch support of open borders and Illinois’ sanctuary status. It’s been nearly three years of daily disorder in Illinois, largely in Chicago. Streams of incoming buses, full of illegal immigrants. Overrun police stations. Immigrant camps. Disenfranchised residents. Public confrontations between the mayor and the governor. Even more crime. It’s been ugly.

Then there are the costs of Pritzker and his Democratic supermajorities’ support for sanctuary policies. It will be some time before we can properly account for all the spending, but it, too, contributes heavily to the chaos. Billions are being siphoned away from Illinois’ actual residents and directed toward migrants. That’s money that could have gone to more services for Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens, or to lower taxes, or to smaller budget deficits.

Take spending on immigrant healthcare alone. A Wirepoints review of IDHFS’ most recent reports shows the state has spent a cumulative $1.5 billion since 2022 on the approximately 42,000 illegal immigrants who’ve enrolled in state-funded programs called Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) and Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA). Those programs don’t qualify for a federal Medicaid match, so the full cost is borne by Illinois taxpayers.

That’s on top of the healthcare spending on “asylum seekers” who are separately eligible for Medicaid. Wirepoints was not able to obtain those costs.

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There’s also spending on housing, transportation, legal services and more for the asylum seekers. We estimated those costs earlier last year and they add up to hundreds of millions more.

Read more here.

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1 arrested after car connected to multiple burglaries in Lake, Cook counties spotted at Barrington burglary

Posted in Crime on January 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Jimmy C. Hall, 30, of Chicago, (inset) was arrested following a burglary that occurred at Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse, 340 West Northwest Highway in Barrington, on Thursday morning that led to a foot pursuit. | Background Photo: Nick Rusin; Inset: Provided

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A suspect was arrested after a car connected to multiple burglaries in Lake and Cook counties was spotted during a smash-and-grab at a liquor store in Barrington, which was witnessed by police.

The Barrington Police Department was notified about a burglary in progress around 2:30 a.m. Thursday at Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse, 340 West Northwest Highway in Barrington.

Officers from a different jurisdiction were surveilling a vehicle with wanted occupants, according to Barrington Police Chief David Daigle.

Police investigate after a suspect was arrested following a burglary that occurred at Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse, 340 West Northwest Highway in Barrington, on Thursday morning that led to a foot pursuit. | Photo: Nick Rusin

The suspects were believed to have been involved in multiple burglaries in several different towns in Lake County and Cook County.

Daigle said the officers following the vehicle advised that the car pulled into Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse and one of the occupants was burglarizing the liquor store.

The suspect forced entry to the store by breaking a front glass window.

Barrington police officers and surveilling units converged on Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse.

More here.

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Prosecutors get first shot at Madigan under oath

Posted in Chicago Sun*Times, ComEd Four, Crime, Deception, Ethics, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes on January 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan walks through the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

By Jon Seidel, Tina Sfondeles and Dave McKinney | Chicago Sun*Times

‘Like bandits’: Just minutes into Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu’s highly anticipated cross-examination Monday of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, prosecutors played a recording that’s been allowed into the trial only because of testimony Madigan gave last week. The recording shows Madigan laughing as he tells his ally, Michael McClain, that certain ComEd contractors had “made out like bandits.”

Prosecutor’s highlights: Madigan testified last week that he thought he’d sent a message to then-Ald. Danny Solis that he wouldn’t be part of a “quid pro quo.” But Bhachu cited at least five other examples of Solis suggesting such an arrangement.

Meet the prosecutor: Bhachu is a 20-year veteran of Chicago’s U.S. attorney’s office. He participated in the historic “Family Secrets” mob prosecution and faced off with gangsters such as Frank “The German” Schweihs and Michael “The Large Guy” Sarno. Now, Bhachu is chief of the office’s Public Corruption and Organized Crime Section.

What’s next: U.S. District Judge John Blakey signaled to jurors that all sides could finish presenting evidence by the end of this week, after roughly three months of trial — with the potential for closing arguments to begin as soon as Jan. 22.

Read more here.

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A bit of Chicago truth-telling: Actuaries warn of insolvency, businesses fear crime

Posted in Crime, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Look For The Union Label, Pension Funding, Politics, Preckwinkle's Rules of Order, Unions, Wirepoints on January 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner | Wirepoints 

Imagine you work for a major company that’s looking to expand its footprint somewhere in the country. The company can go anywhere, and so you look at booming cities in Florida, Texas and a host of other states in the South. And of course, you can’t ignore the old standbys, including Chicago.

But you then see two stories that rapidly dissuade you from considering the Windy City.

That was the reality for any business person reading the news last week. Two articles separately highlighted the city’s overwhelming debt and crime problems, with two paragraphs in two important documents giving particular pause.

The first paragraph was tied to a New York Times article by Andrew Biggs, titled  “What’s the matter with Chicago?”, in which he said, “the word bankruptcy has been hanging over Chicago like a storm cloud about to burst.”  

Part of his evidence for bankruptcy was the city’s own pension actuaries warning of “potential insolvency” for the city’s biggest pension system. The Municipal Employees’ Annuity and Benefit Fund is just 22% funded and has one of the poorest liquidity positions in the country.

In its letter to the pension fund’s board members, the actuary wrote: 

“Given the low funded ratio and the expected timing of employer contributions, the Fund is still at risk of potential insolvency if an economic recession or investment market downturn were to occur in the near term.”

It’s not just the municipal fund that’s in trouble. Chicago’s three other city-run pensions are in equally bad shape, and so is the pension fund for Chicago teachers. Adding up all their debts, Chicago has $53 billion in unfunded pensions. It’s one of the big reasons the city has the worst credit rating in the nation.

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The safety of employees and customers is another key consideration. Unfortunately for Chicago, companies looking to attract investment are being forced to acknowledge the risks of the city’s crime problem

Crain’s reported that Bally’s, the company building the city’s first casino, officially expressed, in its $250 million stock offering documents, a concern to potential investors about crime’s potential impact on its future revenues:

“Business interruptions in Chicago due to crime or civil unrest could adversely affect us. Our business and our assets are planned to be primarily located in Chicago, Illinois, a city which has recently experienced very high levels of criminality and civil unrest. Heightened criminality or the perception of danger among our customers, and events of civil unrest, at or in the vicinity of any of the facilities that we operate and intend to operate, including our temporary casino and our permanent resort and casino, could result in a decline in customer traffic and spending patterns, which would result in a decline in revenue.”

It’s understandable why Bally’s would be so concerned and why it would warn potential investors. 

Chicago was the nation’s homicide capital for the 13th year in a row in 2024. Even with an 8% drop in murders last year, Chicago’s homicide rate remains nearly five times that of New York City (21.5 vs. 4.5 murders for every 100,000 residents) and 3.1 times higher than Los Angeles’ (21.5 vs. 7.0). And the fact that violent crime continued at a near-six year high last year serves as a clear warning to any business considering locating here.

Read more here.

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Madigan takes witness stand, denying he traded ‘public office’ for ‘private gain’

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Deception, Ethics, Look For The Union Label, Perjury, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Resident Spotlights, Springfield, Taxes on January 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Hannah Meisel  | Capitol News Illinois

Over the last 2 ½ months, the jury in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial has heard the longtime Democratic leader’s voice dozens of times on wiretapped phone calls and in secretly recorded video footage.

Since October, jurors have seen the longtime powerbroker as he sat taking notes or otherwise watching testimony from nearly 60 witnesses from his seat at the head of his defense table in a wood-paneled federal courtroom.

But on Tuesday, the jury was finally able to fully observe Madigan – including the mannerisms and idiosyncratic speech patterns his attorney has accused the feds of willfully misinterpreting – as he took the stand in his own defense.

“Did you ever trade your public office for private gain?” Madigan attorney Dan Collins asked his client almost immediately after beginning his line of questioning early Tuesday afternoon.

“No,” Madigan said, turning to the jury as he gave his answer.

“Did you ever demand a thing of value in exchange for a promise to take official action?”

“No,” Madigan replied again before giving the same answer when asked if he’d ever accepted a “thing of value” in exchange for such a promise.

Collins repeated similar bursts of questions several more times before trial adjourned for the day, often pausing after the former speaker’s final denial, letting his “no” hang in the air before moving on to the next subject area.

Bribery charges

The repeated questions – and Madigan’s consistent answers – were aimed at refuting prosecutors’ main theory of bribery, which makes up nearly a third of the 23 counts Madigan faces. The indictment, first filed in March 2022 but expanded later that year, alleges Madigan helped electric utility Commonwealth Edison and telecom giant AT&T Illinois pass key legislation through Springfield in exchange for jobs and contracts for Madigan allies.

Additionally, prosecutors claim Madigan used his elected and political power to recruit clients for his property tax appeals law firm. The feds allege that Madigan – along with longtime Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain, who was indicted on six of the 23 counts – formed a “criminal enterprise” meant to enhance Madigan’s power in addition to enriching himself and those close to him.

Government lawyers have portrayed Madigan as an all-powerful leader who controlled an entire branch of state government as well as the political careers of hundreds of Democrats during his 36 years as House speaker. Meanwhile, Madigan’s attorneys have attempted to undermine that portrayal in their cross-examinations of 50 government witnesses and their defense case that began shortly before the holidays.

Madigan’s decision to testify furthers that work, but it’s a risky move. When prosecutors get their turn to cross-examine the former speaker as early as Wednesday, they will likely attempt to impeach him on the stand after Madigan directly contradicted testimony from several witnesses who’ve testified thus far.

Read more here.

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Madigan tops the naughty list of Illinois’ Federal corruption targets in 2024

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Elections, Ethics, Illinois Policy Institute, Perjury, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes on December 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The nation’s longest-serving legislative speaker, a woman who called herself “super mayor” and a collection of other self-serving public servants are among the highest-profile corruption cases in decades. Here’s the naughty list for 2024.

By Patrick Andriesen | Illinois Policy Institute

While most Illinoisans are preparing to share gifts, multiple probes into Illinois corruption remind us just how many powerful public servants wanted to receive gifts in 2024.

Ranked as the second-most corrupt state in the nation, Illinois’ corrupt politicians stand out in a crowded field for exploiting taxpayers’ good will. Here are some notable public corruption and misconduct cases from 2024.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan

The nearly two-month-long federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving legislative speaker, is predicted to come to a close in mid-January 2025.

Madigan is under indictment on 23-counts, including federal racketeering and bribery charges. Prosecutors allege Madigan ran a criminal enterprise, exchanging influence on key legislation for job opportunities for constituents and other allies.

The former speaker and his longtime political operative, Michael McClain, are accused of pressuring developers to hire Madigan’s law firm as well as conspiring with Commonwealth Edison and AT&T Illinois to provide no-work jobs for the speaker’s associates in return for legislative support in Springfield.

Court documents state Madigan netted $2.85 million in illegitimate funds.

Madigan’s current corruption trial follows a more than decade-long federal investigation into the former speaker that led to at least 21 individuals and businesses facing related criminal charges.

Madigan allies, including McClain, his former chief of staff and the “ComEd Four,” were found guilty by a federal court in 2023 in connection with Madigan’s patronage hiring scheme.

But Madigan denies all of it. He claimed jobs were given to his constituents because of good recommendations, not illegal influence.

Former state lawmaker Michael McClain

Former state lawmaker and longtime Springfield lobbyist Michael McClain is currently facing trial for a second time in the past two years for conspiring with Madigan to commit bribery and racketeering. McClain was Madigan’s long-time confidant and fixer.

McClain is currently facing trial on a 23-count indictment, including federal racketeering, bribery and wire fraud charges alongside his codefendant and longtime political ally, Madigan. McClain has pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

McClain also denied wrongdoing as a defendant in the “ComEd Four” case before being found guilty in May 2023. He was convicted on all charges of conspiring to influence and reward Madigan for helping pass legislation favorable to Commonwealth Edison in Springfield.

Former Chicago Alderman Edward Burke

Once considered the most powerful alderman in Chicago, former 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2 million in June 2024 after being convicted on all but one of the 14 counts of racketeering, attempted bribery, attempted extortion and other crimes.

Burke used his aldermanic powers and city finance committee chairmanship to divert business to his private tax law firm, Klafter & Burke, and shake down groups attempting to work with City Hall. The cigar-chomping, pinstripe-suited politician was in power for five decades.

The cases included threatening to block a proposed fee increase at the Field Museum, shaking down owners of a Burger King in his ward, accepting contracts for his personal law firm in return for support in the city council and blocking approval of the Chicago Post Office redevelopment until Klafter & Burke was hired by the developers.

The list (sadly) continues here.

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IRS data shows ‘Blue State Exodus’ over past 30 years

Posted in Crime, Economy, Immigration, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, The Center Square, Topics Of Interest, Unions on December 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

In the Eaglebrook neighborhood of Farmville, N.C., these homes on Jan. 8, 2024, back up to hole No. 2 on the Farmville Golf & Country Club. This is in Pitt County. |Allan Wooten, The Center Square

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square

Millions of residents in blue states have migrated to red states within the past 30 years, according to federal data. A policy group that analyzed the data says it’s a clear sign that many Americans find Democratic policies unlivable.

From 1990 to 2021, a total of 13 million people left California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts and migrated to Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, Tennessee, Nevada, and South Carolina over the same period.

American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Edward J. Pinto attributes this “blue state exodus” to progressive policies, with high crime, unaffordable housing, high taxes, and rising levels of homelessness and unemployment driving away residents.

“The trend is undeniable: Americans are fleeing progressive states for conservative ones, and they are bringing their incomes with them,” Pinto wrote in a recent op-ed, published in Newsweek.

The American Enterprise Institute is a free market think tank “dedicated to defending human dignity, expanding human potential, and building a freer and safer world,” according to its website.

IRS data reveals California led the nation in net outward migration between 1990 and 2021, hemorrhaging a total of 4.6 million people during that time. New York lost roughly the same number, many of whom moved to Florida.

More here.

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Former Dixon comptroller – who stole $54M – on Biden’s clemency list (Say it ain’t so, Joe!)

Posted in Crime, Deception, Politics, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, WTF on December 12, 2024| 1 Comment »

Dixon woman, Rita Crundwell sentenced to 235 months in prison after stealing $53 million from the city.

By Ben Bradley | WGN News

President Biden’s largest act of clemency includes Rita Crundwell

DIXON, Ill. — President Joe Biden’s decision to grant clemency to nearly 1,500 people Thursday is getting attention because it’s the largest act of clemency by any president.

It’s being received differently in Dixon, Illinois. That’s because Rita Crundwell’s name is on the list.

Crundwell pled guilty to stealing millions dollars from taxpayers in the largest municipal heist in U.S. history. Covid sent her home from prison early; but now Dixon residents have learned she won’t go back.

Crundwell was a humble public servant by day, but lived large in almost every other part of her life. A 20-year fraud on her hometown of Dixon, Illinois total $54 million.

Now, another gut punch for the people of Dixon. Crundwell’s name is on the list of people granted clemency means her punishment is over.

Danny Langloss is the city manager in Dixon and was Dixon’s police chief when Crundwell’s crime was exposed.

“We’re just shocked, outraged and as a community we feel betrayed by the justice system and by the president,” he said. “She pleaded guilty to a very serious crime and got the maximum but served 8 years.  What message does that send to the victims, to our community and people across the country who think about doing something like this?”

Crundwell was a world-class horseman with a stable and possessions worthy of a queen. She left the impression she served as Dixon’s comptroller to give back. The charade crumbled in 2012.

More here.

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