Posted on 01/10/2005 4:16:47 PM PST by Brian Mosely
CHICAGO (AP) - A contractor whose family had close ties to the mayor pleaded guilty Monday to swindling the city through fraudulently obtained janitorial contracts worth $100 million.
James Duff, 46, pleaded guilty to 33 charges of racketeering, mail fraud, wire fraud, tax fraud and money laundering. The maximum sentence for the racketeering count alone is 20 years and a $1 million fine.
"I admit I obtained money from the city through fraudulently obtained contracts," said Duff, 46, whose family has raised thousands of dollars for Mayor Richard Daley's campaign fund.
Prosecutors claimed he swindled the city out of $100 million, but Duff contended that the city lost no money because all the janitorial work promised under the contracts was performed.
"As a matter of fact, it was performed in exemplary fashion," said his lawyer Terrence H. Campbell as he left the courthouse.
In court papers, though, prosecutors likened Duff's argument to allowing someone accused of defrauding a bank "to admit that while in the bank he defrauded a teller of paperclips."
The two sides plan to resolve that dispute at his sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
Duff's mother and five others are due to start trial Jan. 20. They are accused of getting city contracts reserved for businesses run by women and minorities. Prosecutors say the businesses doing the janitorial work at city buildings were controlled by Duff.
Daley issued a statement Monday saying Duff's actions hurt the credibility of the city program that reserves work for companies operated by women and minorities.
"He should receive punishment that will deter others from abusing the program," Daley said.
The U.S. Attorney's office had no comment.
Graft in Chicago ?
I refuse to believe it.
LOL The people in Chicago have ALWAYS loved donating to the democratic machine. Why should it be different now?
His lawyer should make the claim that his client was a civil rights pioneer, fighting against the entrenched racism and sexism of the city of Chicago.
Tell me it isn't true...LOL!
Graft? Grift?
Here in the Windy City, stories of graft and corruption connected to City Hall are regular fixtures in the news.
I find it interesting that the normal response, even from conservatives is, to laugh it off; kinda like they do the recurring stories of voting irregularities.
After all, everyone knows this is how it is and has always been in Chicago. Right?
But I think we would be well-advised to quit falling into that trap, and instead make a very big and serious deal out of it.
The prosecutors have been making some real headway in cleaning up this place, and we need to take the opportunity to fill the void it is creating.
It may be the opportunity of a lifetime.
Q. Why does Mayor Richard Daley keep winning elections?
A. Because the women in Chicago need "Dick Daley" ;-)
It's only been that way for what, about a hundred years or so?
Well, there is the Republican-appointed U.S. Attorney...
Longer.
You know, I really miss Mike Royko. His description of Mayor Daley the First as a "potato with mange" still cracks me up.
Royko was an original.
I grew up in Omaha, NE. His column was a regular fixture in the local paper.
He really gave you the Chicago flavor, that's fer sure.
Unbelievable, ain't it...
It reminded me of something his old man would have done.
Heavy-handed thuggery.
Unfortunately, it is all too believable. ;)
I am shocked! SHOCKED to find out there is corruption in Chicago government!
Yep.......why, you'd almost think there was some sort of protection racket goin on............/sarcasm.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.