Chicago, Illinois corruption trials

Tim Mapes Dirksen Federal Building Chicago Illinois

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

USA vs. James Weiss

Businessman James T. Weiss guilty of bribing 2 state lawmakers, lying to the FBI

The verdict is the second in less than two months to address separate bribery schemes inside the Illinois Capitol. Weiss is a son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios.

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.

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 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

Tim Mapes, who was chief of staff to indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaving court after a hearing in July.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Wife of ex-top aide to Madigan says he was ‘very sullen, very depressed ... as if he was lost’ after being sacked

Witnesses in the perjury trial of Tim Mapes have said they found his forced resignation in June 2018 to be surprising, unexpected, traumatic. But Tuesday, jurors heard Mapes’ wife describe how he handled being fired amid a #MeToo wave at the Capitol.

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.

USA vs. James Weiss

Sentencing of former state Sen. Terry Link set for October

Link’s entanglement with the feds first became known in October 2019, when the Chicago Sun-Times and other media reported he was the unnamed state senator who wore a wire against then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo. Link lied to reporters at the time and claimed it wasn’t him.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. James Weiss

Businessman accused of bribing lawmakers was ‘getting bang for his buck,’ prosecutor says with case poised to go to jury

The jury of five men and seven women is expected to begin deliberations Thursday in the trial of James Weiss.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. James Weiss

Chicago politics take center stage as feds wind down their corruption case against businessman James Weiss

Weiss is accused of bribing two state lawmakers to push legislation in Springfield, but the focus Tuesday turned from the state capitol to City Hall.

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.

ComEd bribery trial

Two ComEd defendants are stripped of their ability to practice law in Illinois

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore contested the move to suspend her law license, but the state Supreme Court ruled against her.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

ComEd bribery trial

Federal judge dismisses Madigan-related bribery charge against ComEd

The dismissal means ComEd no longer faces criminal charges and avoids conviction, while others have faced prison time as a result of the investigation that targeted former state House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd bribery trial

Former ComEd CEO says her bribery conviction shouldn’t lead to sanctions against her law license

Anne Pramaggiore was found guilty of bribing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Now she’s fighting to keep her law license.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Michael Madigan

Convicted ComEd CEO’s attorney warns ‘we may be trying this case again,’ but judge won’t allow contact with jurors

Defense attorney Scott Lassar told the Chicago Sun-Times he was referring to possible rulings by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, or even the U.S. Supreme Court.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd bribery trial

ComEd parent Exelon is paying legal bills for two executives convicted of bribery

The company will not say how much it has paid to attorneys representing ex-CEO Anne Pramaggiore and VP John Hooker, but a rep says ratepayer funds are not used.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Michael Madigan

What ComEd trial guilty verdicts could mean for Michael Madigan and Illinois politics

The convictions could affect the bribery trial next year of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and could spark ethics reforms and questions about how politicians are lobbied.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

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