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Ald. Carothers pleads guilty to corruption, resigns February 1, 2010 6:48 PM | 44 Comments | UPDATED STORY Ald. Isaac "Ike" Carothers pleaded guilty today to federal corruption charges in a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to be sentenced to 28 months in prison. Hours after entering the plea, Carothers resigned from the City Council in a letter to Mayor Richard Daley. "Please keep me and my family in your prayers," Carothers wrote. In admitting he accepted $40,000 in improvements to his home for supporting a developer's controversial project in his ward, Carothers joins a long list of...

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...