Cue the Captain Renault quote:
Posted on 06/08/2009 12:42:19 PM PDT by freespirited
The chairman of the Chicago City Council's police and fire committee pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he accepted home repairs worth $40,000 plus campaign money and sports tickets in exchange for fixing a zoning case.
Alderman Isaac Carothers, 29th Ward, appeared briefly before U.S. Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow on Monday and was ordered freed on a $4,500 unsecured bond.
Authorities allege that developer Calvin Boender paid the bribes. He's also pleaded not guilty and was freed on a $3 million bond secured by real estate.
Carothers was indicted May 28. At the center of the indictment is Galewood Yard, a 50-acre former rail yard and industrial site on the West Side. Boender, a real estate developer, brought it nine years ago for a commercial and residential project, but it was zoned as a restricted manufacturing and commercial district. But the zoning was changed to residential and commercial use. According to the 11-count indictment, Carothers was instrumental in that rezoning.
Prosecutors say it was the largest underdeveloped land in Chicago. Prosecutors say the developer made a $3 million profit in the deal. In exchange, federal investigators say he treated Carothers to meals, tickets to professional sporting events and improvements to Carothers' West Side home.
Carothers is charged with wire and mail fraud, accepting a bribe and filing a false federal income tax return. Carothers' attorney indicated the door is still open for a potential plea deal.
Carothers was cheaged after conversations he had were recorded on an FBI wiretap he was wearing to help in a different investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at abclocal.go.com ...
Let’s play the guessing game. My guess is . . . . Democrat!
Cue the Captain Renault quote:
Standing Headline!
Whig?
I know of a “community organizer” from Chicago that should go to jail for FRAUD.
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