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Chicago Tribune
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
‘You had the power to stop this:' Ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore sentenced to 2 years in prison in scheme to bribe Speaker Madigan
Once a rising corporate star, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore was sentenced Monday to 2 years in federal prison for her role in an elaborate scheme to funnel more than $1.3 million and other perks to associates of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for help with the utility's ambitious legislative agenda. In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Manish Shah acknowledged Pramaggiore's transformative leadership at ComEd and her history of charitable works, but said the evidence at trial showed she also participated in a nearly decade-long scheme that undermined the public's trust in government. 'This was secretive sophisticated criminal corruption of important public policy,' Shah said. 'When it came to Mr. Madigan … you didn't think to change the culture of corruption. Instead you were all in.' Shah said the dichotomy in Pramaggiore's life led him to 'conclude that people like you, good people in positions of power and authority, need to be deterred too.' 'You had the power to stop this,' the judge said. 'You could have said 'No, this is not how legislation should be done.' You had the power to change the culture at ComEd.' He also found that she had lied repeatedly during her testimony at trial, particularly in denying knowledge of the connection of ComEd's no-work subcontractors to the powerful Democratic speaker and telling the jury she made no effort to cover it up. Pramaggiore, who turns 67 in two weeks, showed little outward reaction as Shah announced his sentence, which also included a $750,000 fine. A few minutes earlier, Pramaggiore had been given the chance to address the judge but declined to do so. 'Thank you your honor. I will stand on my able attorney's commentary and submissions,' she said while remaining seated at the defense table. Shah ordered Pramaggiore to report to prison by Dec. 1. However her attorney, Scott Lassar, told the judge he will ask for Pramaggiore to remain free on bond pending appeal, given what he said are significant legal issues in the case. Shah asked Lassar to submit something in writing in three weeks. After the hearing, Pramaggiore walked out of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse without comment. Lassar also declined to make a statement to reporters. The defense later issued a statement through a spokesman maintaining Pramaggiore's innocence and vowing to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. 'We are disappointed by the sentence imposed today,' the statement read. 'It is nearly impossible to reconcile the sentence — two years in prison — with the federal Probation Department's recommendation of no jail time and probation.' The sentencing comes more than two years after Pramaggiore's conviction in the 'ComEd Four' case, one of the biggest political corruption scandals in state history. Last week, her former colleague, ex-ComEd executive John Hooker, was given to a year and a half in prison. Sentencing for the other two defendants, Michael McClain and Jay Doherty, remain pending. The investigation, which came to light more than six years ago, ended Pramaggiore's stellar career in Chicago's male-dominated C-suite corporate world, where she'd recently been named chief executive of Exelon, a major Fortune 100 energy company that delivered power to millions of customers in the Chicago area and beyond. Prosecutors asked for a stiff prison term of almost 6 years and a $1.75 million fine, writing in a recent filing that despite all her success, money and professional status, 'she made the choice to participate in a years-long conspiracy that corrupted the legislative process in Springfield' and subverted her own company's internal controls. In asking for a 70-month prison term, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Streicker, Julia Schwartz and Diane MacArthur also wrote that Pramaggiore lied repeatedly in her testimony during the 2023 trial. which ended in sweeping guilty verdicts. 'She could have remained silent,' Streicker argued in court Monday. 'She had every right to do so, but instead she chose to try and obstruct the jury's process…With her back against the wall she chose to testify and lie in order to protect herself.' Pramaggiore's attorneys, meanwhile, argued for probation, writing in a court filing of their own that the conduct for which she was convicted was 'a true aberration' in an otherwise exemplary life, not only in her professional path but also in her dedication to her family and charitable works. They also submitted nearly a hundred letters from friends and supporters attesting to her good character. 'She has lost her reputation, her career, and her law license, and she faces even more potential consequences, including further enforcement actions,' Lassar wrote in a 49-page filing. 'Imposing a prison sentence that takes her away from her family, friends, and community will not serve the ends of justice.' In court Monday, Lassar argued the arrangement to pay Madigan's associates as subcontractors 'was set up by other people,' including McClain, Hooker and former ComEd CEO Frank Clark, who preceded Pramaggiore. Lassar said ComEd's Smart Grid legislation, which was at the center of the alleged bribery scheme, only became law because of years of tough negotiating and broad coalition building in Springfield, bringing in including big labor, environmentalists, and myriad legislative caucuses. 'She never asked Madigan for help in passing legislation,' Lassar said. '…And she was never aware that Madigan helped do anything to get it passed.' Pramaggiore and her three co-defendants — McClain, a former ComEd lobbyist and longtime Madigan confidant, Hooker, who was ComEd's vice president for legislative affairs, and Doherty, a consultant and former City Club of Chicago leader — were convicted on all counts in May 2023 after a two-month trial. The case was then beset by a series of delays, first due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that reset the rules for a key federal bribery statute and then again after the death of the judge who'd presided over the trial, Harry Leinenweber. After he was selected to take over the case, Shah earlier this year tossed the underlying bribery counts due to the Supreme Court's decision, but kept intact the main conspiracy count as well as guilty verdicts for falsifying ComEd's books and records, which were charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In their statement Monday, Pramaggiore's legal team referenced both the Supreme Court's decision and President Donald Trump's recent pausing of enforcement of the FCPA, citing overreach and prosecutorial abuse. 'That has happened here,' the statement read. 'Ms. Pramaggiore faces jail despite the documents at issue being true. Chicago is not a foreign jurisdiction…There is nothing foreign or corrupt about the facts here.' The bulk of the ComEd allegations centered on a cadre of Madigan allies who were paid a total of $1.3 million from 2011 through 2019 through allegedly do-nothing consulting contracts. Among the recipients were two former aldermen, Frank Olivo and Michael Zalewski, precinct captains Ray Nice and Edward Moody, and former state Rep. Edward Acevedo. In addition, prosecutors alleged ComEd also hired a clouted law firm run by political operative Victor Reyes, distributed numerous college internships within Madigan's 13th Ward fiefdom, and backed former McPier chief Juan Ochoa, a friend of a Madigan ally, for an $80,000-a-year seat on the utility's board of directors, the indictment alleged. In return, prosecutors alleged, Madigan used his influence over the General Assembly to help ComEd score a series of huge legislative victories that not only rescued the company from financial instability but led to record-breaking, billion-dollar profits. Among them was the 2011 smart grid bill that set a built-in formula for the rates ComEd could charge customers, avoiding battles with the Illinois Commerce Commission, according to the charges. ComEd also leaned on Madigan's office to help pass the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, which kept the formula rate in place and also rescued two nuclear plants run by an affiliated company, Exelon Generation. Pramaggiore is the second of the ComEd Four to be sentenced. Shah handed a 1 1/2-year prison term to Hooker last week. A hearing for McClain, a retired ComEd lobbyist who doubled as Madigan's right-hand man, will be sentenced Thursday, while the fourth defendant, Doherty, is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Madigan, meanwhile, was convicted in a separate trial of an array of schemes that included the ComEd bribery payments. He was sentenced in June to seven and a half years in prison. Defense attorneys for the ComEd Four have repeatedly argued the government was seeking to criminalize legal lobbying and job recommendations that are at the heart of the state's legitimate political system. They ripped the government's star witness, former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez, as a liar and opportunist who was so terrified when FBI agents confronted him in January 2019 that he flipped without even consulting a lawyer and also agreed to secretly record his friends. Marquez testified in March 2023 that the roster of 'subcontractors' hired by ComEd was curated by McClain and read like a who's who of Madigan's vaunted political operation, including two legendary precinct captains, a former assistant majority leader in the House and two former Chicago aldermen at the center of Madigan's Southwest Side base of power. Over the course of eight years, ComEd paid them hundreds of thousands of dollars, even though they had no particular expertise and ultimately did virtually no work for the utility. Some seemed to be downright incompetent, Marquez told the jury. On cross-examination, Marquez, who pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing, acknowledged there was 'no guarantee' that Madigan was going to help pass ComEd bills. But he added the company still tried to make Madigan happy because 'not doing it would cause us to be negatively looked on by' the speaker. He also admitted he initially told the FBI he didn't believe any of it was bribery. Pramaggiore's lawyers argued in their sentencing memo that she should be punished only for the remaining counts of conviction, which all have to do with falsifying ComEd's books. But prosecutors say the entire scope of the scheme is still fair game, even if the specific bribery counts were dropped — a position that Shah has agreed with. At Hooker's sentencing July 14, Shah said the evidence at trial showed the four co-defendants 'were jointly undertaking the quid pro quo bribery of Mr. Madigan, paying out his cronies in exchange for favorable official action.' 'The instructional error doesn't change my factual assessment,' Shah said. 'Not only could a jury reach that conclusion, I reached that conclusion based on my own review.
Los Angeles Times
01-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Nonprofit employee suspected of smuggling drugs into L.A. juvenile hall
An employee working for a nonprofit organization was arrested with dozens of pills in his possession at a Downey juvenile hall on Monday, months after several youths overdosed at the facility. Alejandro Lopez was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and drug possession after he was found holding roughly 170 'white pills' inside Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall around 11:30 a.m., according to a news release from the L.A. County Probation Department, which oversees the halls. The department said officers noticed Lopez was 'engaged in some suspicious activity' and approached him shortly before finding the pills. They are believed to be Xanax, but lab tests must be conducted to confirm that, according to Vicky Waters, a Probation Department spokeswoman. 'This type of behavior is unacceptable and represents a clear threat to the safety and well-being of the youth and staff in our institutions,' county Chief Probation Officer Guillermo Viera Rosa said in a statement. 'We are grateful for the swift action of our investigative team and our law enforcement partners. We remain committed to ensuring a secure environment for youth, staff, and our community partners.' Probation officials said Lopez works for Student Nest, which, according to its website, is a Fresno-based tutoring service that provides programs focused on math, science, English and robotics. Attempts to contact the company were not immediately successful Monday night. It was not immediately clear whether Lopez had legal representation. Drugs in the county's juvenile halls have been a major concern since the May 2023 overdose death of 18-year-old Bryan Diaz at the Secure Youth Treatment Facility in Sylmar. This year, three youths were hospitalized after suffering drug overdoses in Los Padrinos, just days after probation officials found a large quantity of Xanax inside the hall. A probation officer was charged with helping smuggle Xanax into Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar in June.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man on probation arrested on suspicion of marijuana, cocaine possession for sale
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Bakersfield man was arrested on Tuesday after probation officers allegedly found drugs and cash in his home, according to the Kern County Probation Department. On June 10, officers with the Probation Department conducted a home call in the 2500 block of White Lane, according to officials. During a search of the home, officers allegedly found about 29 grams of suspected cocaine, 378 grams of suspected marijuana and a large amount of United States currency in various denominations. Boron man arrested after traffic stop leads to ghost gun, narcotics Adrian Coronel, 31, who was on active post-release community supervision, was arrested for several charges related to possession of drugs and/or drug sales. Coronel was also arrested on suspicion of possessing other people's identification and violating probation, according to the department. Coronel also had two prior convictions for drug-related charges, making him qualify under Proposition 36, officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Sacramento County to use drones to track homeless people on probation
SACRAMENTO — Sacramento County is eyeing a new approach to track and contact people living homeless: drones. The county's probation department said it needs the drones to contact homeless people who are on probation, specifically in hard-to-reach spots like along the American Parkway. "It's a scary thought to think our society is at the point that we are tracking homeless people with drones," said Alan Howard, who uses the American River Parkway. The drones won't just be eyes in the sky. They will be able to communicate with homeless people. The department said this will prevent officers from exposing themselves to potential risk, such as loose animals, terrain issues and other hazards until they are sure it is safe to move in. "Obviously, there are transportation barriers for them to reach us, so we want to remove those barriers," said interim Chief Probation Officer Julie Wherry. Wherry got the green light from the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to purchase three commercial drones. The goal is to avoid issuing warrants when a homeless person does not show up for their probation check-ins. "Most importantly, support on-site community check-ins with clients to reduce warrants and provide support resources such as clothing, water, snacks and hygiene products," said Wherry. Probation said those services include personal hygiene kits, food, mental health referrals, drug and substance counseling referrals, access to temporary housing resources and information, as well as services provided by system partners. The Sacramento Homeless Union harshly opposes the plan to use drones. Crystal Sanchez, the union's president, gave CBS13 a statement that reads: "The use of drones by the county probation department is just the latest escalation in a disturbing trend - treating people in crisis as if they are criminals to be surveilled, rather than neighbors in need of support and dignity..."Instead of investing in real housing solutions, the county is doubling down on tactics that traumatize, intimidate and further destabilize those who are already vulnerable." "A lot of homeless live right on the other side of this hill here," said Nicholas Free, who works at University Automotive near Cal Expo. "Multiple fires, encampments, but over the years, it has been getting a lot better." In the past, CBS13 has covered homeless encampment fires feet away from Free's work, and it is why he thinks having more surveillance on the American River Parkway is a positive thing. "I think it could be an inside help where they can have eyes up ahead and plan for some of these situations," said Free. The probation department said it will follow all federal, state and local rules for flying the drones. It is still working to secure the grants to purchase them.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
L.A. County to pay $2.7 million to teen assaulted in 'gladiator fight'
Los Angeles County is poised to pay nearly $2.7 million to a teenager whose violent beating at a juvenile hall launched a sprawling criminal investigation into so-called 'gladiator fights' inside the troubled facility. Video of the December 2023 beating, captured on CCTV, showed Jose Rivas Barillas, then 16, being pummeled by six juveniles at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall as probation officers stood idly by. Each youth attacked Rivas Barillas for a few seconds before returning to breakfast. Two officers, later identified as longtime probation officials Taneha Brooks and Shawn Smyles, laughed and shook hands, encouraging the brawl. "What made this unique is the video,' said Rivas Barillas' attorney, Jamal Tooson, who said his client suffered a broken nose and traumatic brain injury. 'The entire world got to witness the brutality that's taking place with our children at the hands of the Los Angeles County Probation Department.' The video, first reported by The Times, prompted a criminal investigation by the state attorney general's office, which later charged 30 probation officers — including Brooks and Smyles — with allowing and encouraging fights among teens inside county juvenile halls. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta referred to the coordinated brawls as 'gladiator fights' and said his office's CCTV review had turned up 69 such fights during the chaotic first six months after the hall opened in July 2023. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to approve the $2.67-million settlement to Rivas Barillas and his mother, Heidi Barillas Lemus. According to a public summary of the 'corrective action plan' that the Probation Department must produce before a large settlement, officials failed to review CCTV video of the fight and waited too long to transport the teen to a hospital and notify his family. CCTV monitors are now 'staffed routinely,' and officials are working on conducting random audits of the recordings, according to the plan. A spokesperson for the Probation Department did not respond to a request for comment. Immediately after Rivas Barillas arrived at the Downey juvenile hall, Brooks demanded to know his gang affiliation, according to the claim filed with the county. Brooks said she had heard that Rivas Barillas, who is Latino, was from the "Canoga" gang and that she "hoped he could fight' before directing the other juveniles, all of whom were Black, to attack him in the day room, the claim stated. After the video made headlines, accounts of teens forced by probation officers to fight have trickled out of Los Padrinos. A teen told The Times in March that officers at Los Padrinos rewarded him with a fast-food 'bounty' — In-N-Out, Jack in the Box, McDonald's — if he beat up kids who misbehaved. The teenager, who had previously been housed in the same unit as Rivas Barillas, said staffers would also organize fights when someone arrived who was thought to be affiliated with a gang that didn't get along with the youths inside. 'We get a new kid, he's from the hood. We have other hoods in here. We're going to get all the fights out of the way,' he said at the time. 'They were just setting it up to control the situation.' Another teenager, identified in court filings as John (Lohjk) Doe, alleged in a lawsuit filed in February that soon after arriving at Los Padrinos in 2024, he was escorted by an officer to the day room. The officer, identified only by the surname Santos, told a youth inside the day room that 'you have eleven (11) seconds' and watched as the youth attacked Doe, according to the lawsuit. On another occasion, the same officer threatened to pepper-spray Doe if he didn't fight another youth for 20 seconds. The teens who fought were rewarded with extra television and more time out of their cells, the suit alleged. After the teen told a female officer about the two coordinated brawls, he was transferred to solitary confinement, the suit alleged. Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
