Edward Acevedo
Luis Arroyo
Carrie Austin
Edward Burke
Thomas Cullerton
Jay Doherty
Tim Mapes
Michael Madigan
Omar Maani
Terry Link
Emil Jones III
Exelon/ComEd
Kevin Quinn
Louis Presta
Anne Pramaggiore
Ricardo Muñoz
Michael McClain
Fidel Marquez
Mike Zalewski
Jeff Tobolski
Patrick Daley Thompson
Danny Solis
Martin Sandoval
Former alderman, 14th Ward, Chicago (Democrat)
Federal prosecutors accused Burke of corruptly soliciting property tax appeals work for his private law firm, as well as attempting to help a Northwest Side developer receive sign permitting for a planned liquor store after the developer said he would hire Burke’s firm. Burke, who pleaded innocent, was found guilty of all but one of the 14 counts brought against him. Once the city's most powerful alderman, he did not file to run for a 15th term and left the City Council in April 2023 after 54 years.
Convicted on Dec. 21, 2023, of charges including racketeering and bribery.
Edward Burke
Federal authorities have been working for several years on an apparent systematic takedown of Chicago corruption, a probe that has so far claimed the clout of several elected officials and prompted the resignation of top executives. Here’s a look at who has been charged in federal court, who has been raided by federal authorities and who else is connected to those under scrutiny. Each defendant is looking at the potential for many years in jail, with some of the counts carrying maximum prison sentences of 20 years.
Chicago corruption
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Acevedo, the first person sentenced in connection with the Commonwealth Edison bribery probe, got six months in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion in a case tied to the sprawling investigation of former House Speaker Michael Madigan. Acevedo also must pay restitution for the more than $37,000 in taxes he would have owed to the IRS in 2017 and 2018.
Former state representative
Pleaded guilty in December 2021. Sentenced on March 23, 2022.
Edward Acevedo
Arroyo was charged with one count of federal program bribery for allegedly offering to pay $2,500 monthly to an Illinois state senator. In exchange, federal authorities allege, he expected that senator’s support of sweepstakes-related legislation in the Illinois General Assembly to benefit a lobbying client of Arroyo’s. His son, Cook County Commissioner Luis Arroyo Jr., is also in the federal crosshairs. In April of 2021, prosecutors subpoenaed tax information regarding the younger Arroyo, his lobbying firm, and his wife Desiree, WBEZ reported.
Former state representative, Chicago (Democrat)
Charged on Oct. 28, 2019. Pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2021.
Luis Arroyo
Two years after Austin’s ward office on the Far South Side was raided in June of 2019, federal authorities indicted Austin and her chief of staff, Chester Wilson Jr., on bribery charges. They allege Austin and Wilson conspired to receive "home improvements from construction contractors seeking city assistance" for a housing development in Austin’s ward. That included offers of granite, "expensive" sump pumps, and cabinets.
Pleaded not guilty on July 8, 2021.
Alderman, 34th Ward, Chicago (Democrat)
Carrie Austin
Cullerton pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, admitting he improperly took more than $240,000 from the Teamsters labor union.
Former state senator, Villa Park (Democrat)
Charged on Aug. 2, 1019. Pleaded guilty on March 8, 2022.
Thomas Cullerton
Doherty was convicted, along with three others, of bribing Speaker Madigan in return for getting highly lucrative bills enacted in Springfield to benefit the utility. Authorities said Doherty and his consulting company acted as a conduit for ComEd to pay Madigan associates, often for little or no work. Doherty received $1.6 million between 2014 and 2019 from ComEd, with "with a substantial portion of each payment" going to Madigan allies.
Former City Club President, former ComEd lobbyist
Convicted on May 2, 2023, of bribery and conspiracy.
Jay Doherty
On July 17, 2020, in a deferred-prosecution deal with the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, ComEd admits to lobbying arrangements designed to help associates of former House Speaker Michael Madigan that effectively amounted to bribery. Exelon owns ComEd, as well as utilities in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
ComEd charged with bribery.
Exelon/Commonwealth Edison
Jones faces federal bribery charges related to a red-light camera bill and for lying to the FBI. The bribery charges allege Jones took money from a company in exchange for squashing 2019 legislation. Jones is the son of former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr.
Charged on Sept. 20, 2022.
State senator, Chicago (Democrat)
Emil Jones III
Longtime Vernon Hills Democrat Terry Link pleaded guilty on Sept 16, 2020 to filing a false income tax return for the year 2016. Though sources and many facts of the case pointed to him, Link repeatedly denied being an on again off again cooperating witness who helped the FBI target now-indicted state Rep. Luis Arroyo. Federal authorities allege Arroyo offered a $2,500 monthly bribe to a state senator in exchange for his support of video gaming sweepstakes legislation. Link reported a total income of $264,450 but "knew that the total income substantially exceeded that amount," federal authorities allege. Link resigned from the Senate on September 12, not long after stepping down as the chair of the Lake County Democratic Party.
Pleaded guilty on Sept. 16, 2020.
State Senator, Vernon Hills (Democrat)
Terry Link
Federal charges say Maani, fellow SafeSpeed consultant Patrick Doherty (former Chief of Staff to Jeff Tobolski) and another individual engaged in a conspiracy to bribe a relative of a trustee in suburban Oak Lawn to expand SafeSpeed cameras in the village. In a deferred prosecution agreement, Maani agreed to work with federal authorities and accepted responsibility for the conspiracy, which included providing “other benefits, including campaign contributions, meals, money, and sporting-event tickets, to other public officials” to benefit the company. SafeSpeed denies involvement and suggest Maani went rogue. Charges against Louis Presta and Martin Sandoval also involve the company.
Charged on Aug. 13, 2020.
Business, former partner, SafeSpeed
Omar Maani
Madigan faces a series of racketeering charges alleging he helmed a massive criminal enterprise over the better part of a decade. The 22 charges, also against longtime confidante Mike McClain, detail no-show or low-show jobs for Madigan's political workers and private gain for Madigan himself. He was implicated in the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement as being the beneficiary of financial and other favors to close associates in exchange for favorable legislation "used to determine the electricity rates ComEd charged its customers." Madigan denies any wrongdoing. Madigan is scheduled to stand trial in April 2024.
Indicted on March 2, 2020.
Former Illinois Speaker of the House, Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois
Michael Madigan
The former longtime right-hand man to Madigan and executive director of the state's Democratic Party, Mapes was found guilty of lying to a federal grand jury—after being granted immunity—and attempting to block the feds' corruption investigation into Commonwealth Edison's activity in Springfield. Mapes left Madigan's office in 2018 amid a harassment and bullying scandal. The feds allege Mapes knew about work done on Madigan's behalf by confidante Michael McClain. He was charged in May 2021 and convicted in August 2023 of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice.
Sentenced 2.5 years in prison in February 2024.
Former chief of staff to ex-House Speaker Mike Madigan
Tim Mapes
The first executive charged in the federal investigation involving ComEd, Marquez was charged Sept. 4, 2020, with sending a $37,500 payment to a lobbying firm owned by City Club President Jay Doherty to benefit former House Speaker Mike Madigan. Marquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy and testified in the "ComEd Four" trial that led to the convictions of Doherty; former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; ComEd lobbyist and Madigan confidant Michael McClain; and John Hooker, a longtime ComEd executive turned contract lobbyist.
Pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2020.
Former senior vice president, ComEd
Fidel Marquez
McClain—a former state rep, longtime ComEd lobbyist and confidant to former House Speaker Michael Madigan—was convicted along with three others of bribing Madigan in return for getting highly lucrative bills enacted in Springfield to benefit the utility. The feds said McClain acted as a Madigan intermediary, asking for jobs and payments; conveying Madigan's wishes to public officials, lobbyists and executives; and coordinating with ComEd to arrange no- or low-show jobs and contracts for Madigan allies.
Convicted on May 2, 2023, of bribery and conspiracy.
Former lobbyist, Quincy
Michael McClain
Muñoz got a 13-month prison sentence for wire fraud and money laundering. He pleaded guilty to charges that came from allegations he used money from a political fund to pay personal expenses. The feds say Muñoz, while acting as treasurer of the City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus' PAC, used funds for family tuition, travel, sports and women's clothing.
Indicted on April 29, 2021. Pleaded guilty on Sept. 27, 2021.
Sentenced on March 17, 2022.
Former alderman, 22nd Ward, Chicago (Democrat)
Ricardo Muñoz
Once one of Illinois' most powerful businesswomen and considered a potential successor to take over as CEO of Exelon, Pramaggiore abruptly resigned and left other top board seats amid increasing federal scrutiny into ComEd's lobbying activities in Springfield. A little over a year later, she was indicted for conspiring "to corruptly influence and reward" former House Speaker Michael Madigan to aid with legislation favorable to the utility company. That included the creation of false contracts, invoices and other records to cover up the nature of the payments, and taking steps to get a Madigan associate on ComEd's board.
Convicted on May 2, 2023, of bribery and conspiracy.
Former CEO, Commonwealth Edison
Anne Pramaggiore
Federal prosecutors indicted Presta, the southwest suburban mayor, in August 2020 for asking for and accepting benefits from representatives of a red light camera operator, reportedly SafeSpeed. He was charged with filing false tax returns and lying to the FBI and IRS, including about whether an envelope he was handed during a March 2018 meeting contained $5,000 in cash. Presta pleaded guilty to a bribery and official misconduct count – accepting a $5,000 bribe – and filing a false income tax return. Together, the counts are punishable with up to eight years in federal prison.
Pleaded guilty on Nov. 17, 2021.
Mayor, Crestwood (Democrat)
Louis Presta
Quinn is the brother of Ald. Marty Quinn and a former political aide to former House Speaker Mike Madigan. His home was raided in May 2019. Reports suggest investigators are looking into payments to Quinn from current and former lobbyists for ComEd.
Under scrutiny, not charged.
Former political aide, 13th Ward, Chicago
Kevin Quinn
Sandoval died in December 2020 of COVID-19. He had been charged with filing a false tax return and accepting bribes in exchange for his support of the red light camera industry, including "opposing legislation adverse to the interests of the red-light-camera industry" while head of the powerful Senate Transportation Committee. His offices were raided by federal investigators in September 2019. They sought information on lobbyists, red-light-camera company SafeSpeed, ComEd, Exelon, video gambling company Gold Rush Gaming and several state transportation officials. Sandoval retired from the Illinois Senate in January 2020.
Charged; pleaded guilty in January 2020.
Former state senator, Chicago (Democrat)
Martin Sandoval
The former alderman turned government mole helped federal investigators build cases against Ald. Edward Burke and ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan, and he has since been charged with a bribery count. The indictment alleges Solis corruptly solicited campaign donations from an unidentified real estate developer in exchange for zoning changes in 2015, when he was head of the City Council Zoning Committee.
Indicted on April 8, 2022.
Former alderman, 25th Ward, Chicago (Democrat)
Danny Solis
In February of 2022, a jury found Thompson guilty on seven counts of lying to federal bank regulators about loans he'd obtained from the now-defunct Washington Federal Bank for Savings on which he was required to make little or no repayment, as well as failing to pay taxes on the proceeds from those loans. Thompson maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and trial, but the conviction means he is ineligible to continue serving as alderman in the ward where the Daley family has long centered its power.
Convicted on Feb. 14, 2022.
Alderman, 11th Ward, Chicago (Democrat)
Patrick Daley Thompson
Eleven months after agents raided the McCook village hall office of Tobolski, he was charged with extortion and filing a false income tax return. He pleaded guilty in September 2020 to collecting nearly $30,000 in an extortion scheme with four other people involving a restaurant on property owned by the village of McCook. He intends to cooperate with federal authorities. Tobolski's Chief of Staff at the Cook County Board, Patrick Doherty, has been indicted and pleaded not guilty for allegedly conspiring to pay bribes to get Oak Lawn trustee approval to install more SafeSpeed red light cameras in the village.
Pleaded guilty on Sept. 1, 2020.
Former Cook County commissioner and mayor of McCook (Democrat)
Jeff Tobolski
Zalewski's home was also raided in May. He retired from the City Council in 2018. Reports suggest the FBI was seeking communications among Madigan, McClain and the former alderman about trying to line up lobbying work for Zalewski. ComEd’s agreement with the feds does point to Zalewski as benefiting from a $5,000 a month consulting subcontractor as part of the scheme to allegedly benefit Madigan.
Under scrutiny, not charged.
Former alderman, 23rd Ward, Chicago (Democrat)
Mike Zalewski