Chicago, Illinois corruption trials

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

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

Flanked by family members and attorneys, former Ald. Edward Burke (14th) walks out of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being found guilty of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

Ed Burke ‘had his hand out for money.’ Powerful politician convicted of extortion, bribery in historic verdict

A jury of nine women and three men heard from 38 witnesses over 16 days of testimony as prosecutors made their case that Burke was “a bribe taker” and “an extortionist.”

By Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel | WBEZ

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.

Ex-Alderman Ed Burke and his wife, former Illinois State Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke, walk as tall yellowed grasses loom in the background.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

Ex-Ald. Ed Burke keeps law license after most Illinois Supreme Court justices recuse themselves

The former alderman’s wife, Anne Burke, served as chief justice of the state’s highest court for three years before her tenure ended in 2022.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ and Jon Seidel

Dressed in an overcoat, shirt and tie, Ed Burke leaves the federal courthouse.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

Ed Burke's lawyers say he deserves acquittal or a new trial and call last year's verdict 'inexplicable'

A federal jury found former Chicago Ald. Burke guilty in December of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion.

By Jon Seidel

Former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke waves and wears a brown coat as he leaves federal court.

The Watchdogs

Ed Burke is still in line for millions in payouts from pension, campaign funds after corruption conviction

The Chicago City Council icon turned felon is entitled to more than $540,000 he paid into a city pension fund — and a nearly $2.5 million payout from his campaign fund.

By Mitchell Armentrout and Tim Novak

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.

USA vs. 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 vs. 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

Tim Mapes chief of staff Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Jury begins deliberations in perjury trial of ex-top aide to Madigan after feds hammer at ‘brazen’ and ‘preposterous’ lies

Tim Mapes, longtime chief of staff to one of Illinois’ most powerful politicians, listened as a federal prosecutor accused him of flaunting his oath to tell the truth, committing crimes and choosing “Team Madigan” as a grand jury closed in on his old boss.

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

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

Chicago corruption trials

Secret recordings cite ties between Berrios relative, Chicago mobster: ‘Jimmy and Frank were good friends’

Prosecutors revealed secretly recorded conversations Wednesday as they sought a prison sentence of more than five years for James T. Weiss, convicted this year of bribing two Illinois lawmakers.

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.

Fidel Marquez, former ComEd senior vice president of governmental and external affairs.

ComEd bribery trial

Feds say crucial witness against Michael Madigan gave false answer while trying to buy gun

Fidel Marquez did not succeed in purchasing the firearm, and no criminal charges appear to have been filed against him. Prosecutors confirmed earlier this week that he is expected to testify at the trial of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Jon Seidel

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

ComEd bribery trial

ComEd bribery sentencings postponed while Supreme Court reviews Indiana corruption case

Prosecutors have accused defense attorneys for the four people convicted of conspiring to bribe Michael Madigan of “claiming victory prematurely.” But one defense attorney predicted that “the convictions are not going to stand.”

By Jon Seidel

Former City Club President Jay Doherty walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in March 2023.

Columnists

Don’t forget what human frailty is

An appeal for mercy for former City Club president Jay Doherty.

By Neil Steinberg

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. 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 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

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

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

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

Chicago corruption trials

Former state lawmaker whose name surfaced in federal corruption probes faces tax trial

Annazette Collins’ indictment revolves around the work she did after she lost the Democratic primary in 2012. A prosecutor explained Tuesday how Collins, after working “as a career politician,” founded the lobbying and consulting firm Kourtnie Nicole Corp.

By Jon Seidel