Chicago, Illinois corruption trials

Former Ald. Ed Burkę and his wife Ann enter a wating car outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after his sentencing.

Ed Burke

A smiling Ed Burke greets 2-year sentence on corruption charges as judge rejects prosecution request for much tougher term

U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall seemed affected by the hundreds of letters written by Burke’s supporters. “I have never in all my career seen the letters that I have received for Mr. Burke.”

By Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel | WBEZ

Tim Mapes walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being sentenced on Monday.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

2.5 years in prison for Tim Mapes, ex-aide to Michael Madigan. 'Your loyalty was gravely misguided.'

Federal prosecutors asked the judge to give Mapes as many as five years in prison, arguing that his lies “were calculated to thwart the government’s sprawling investigation of a series of unlawful schemes calculated to corrupt the government of this state at the highest levels.”

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.

Michael Madigan

Madigan lawyers seek dismissal of 14 counts against ex-House speaker, citing Supreme Court ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a key statute at play in Michael Madigan’s case criminalizes bribery among state and local officials, but not after-the-fact rewards known as “gratuities.”

By David Struett

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 vs. 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

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.

The ComEd Four (left to right): Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker; former City Club President Jay Doherty; former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; Michael McClain, longtime confidant to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

ComEd bribery trial

Fate of ComEd bribery defendants could be in the dark for months

It’s a remarkable turnaround in a case that once seemed like a slam-dunk for the feds. Jurors in May 2023 convicted the four defendants of every count for which they’d been charged.

By Jon Seidel

Flanked by attorneys, Illinois’ former House Speaker Michael Madigan walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Wednesday, Jan. 3. U.S. District Judge John Blakey rescheduled Madigan’s racketeering trial for Oct. 8, a delay of six months while the Supreme Court considers a Northwest Indiana corruption case revolving around a key statute at play in Madigan’s case.

Chicago corruption trials

Madigan attorneys still aiming for October trial despite U.S. Supreme Court ruling

Prosecutors have no plan to file a revised indictment against the disgraced former Illinois House speaker.

By Jon Seidel

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

ComEd bribery trial

Madigan, ComEd bribery cases could be upended by U.S. Supreme Court ruling, defense attorneys say

A defense attorney predicted one of Chicago’s high-stakes public corruption cases, the ComEd bribery case, will get a new trial. Michael Madigan’s trial is set for October but could be delayed.

By Jon Seidel and Dave McKinney | WBEZ

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.

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

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 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.

Joseph Weiss at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse Monday.

Chicago corruption trials

Brother of convicted businessman James Weiss pleads guilty to lying to FBI, IRS

Joseph Weiss admitted lying about his brother’s ties to the late Chicago mobster Frank ‘The German’ Schweihs.

By Jon Seidel

Chicago corruption trials

Judge spares cooperating ex-Sen. Terry Link from prison but has questions about Springfield corruption

The feds agreed that the Vernon Hills Democrat deserved probation despite his tax crimes, asking U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland for the light sentence in a memo last week.

By Jon Seidel

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

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.

Timothy Mapes walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being sentenced, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Power brokers, political insiders asked judge to go easy on convicted top aide to Michael Madigan

Timothy Mapes was sentenced to 2½ years in prison for lying to a grand jury. Now we know who wrote letters to the judge on his behalf.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Convicted ex-Michael Madigan aide will have his pension suspended

Timothy Mapes was convicted of lying to a federal grand jury as part of an effort to thwart the feds’ probe into former House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ

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 vs. 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. 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.

La Voz Chicago

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

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