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Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Judge strikes reference to Madigan's personal fortune of more than $40 million from sentencing record
A federal judge on Tuesday struck from the court record a reference to former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan's personal net worth of more than $40 million, agreeing with his defense team that it should have been kept private, even as the attorneys acknowledged the move was 'hollow' given that it was already widely publicized. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey said he didn't find any 'bad faith' on the part of the federal prosecutors who included the figure in a filing last week ahead of Madigan's highly anticipated sentencing on Friday, but found that common practice would be to file such personal information under seal. Blakey's ruling came before the attorneys delivered arguments over sentencing guidelines at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, technically kicking off the sentencing process. Blakey took the matter under advisement until Friday's hearing. Federal prosecutors made Madigan's net worth public for the first time in a response to a sentencing memorandum filed by his attorneys, arguing that the defendant's 'greed is even more appalling given his law firm's success.' Daniel Collins, an attorney for Madigan, called the inclusion of the former speaker's personal fortune improper and a 'gratuitous effort' to publicly identify his net worth. 'It is not necessary to include the number in order for the government to make an argument about greed,' Collins said. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker countered to the judge that the defense left the door open by arguing in filings that Madigan was solely motivated by a desire to help people. She also said the figure is relevant as the government seeks a fine in the case. 'It's fair for the government to rebut that narrative and show the defendant was motivated by greed not need,' Streicker said. 'This is a defendant that enjoyed every advantage and significant financial wealth and still turned to bribery and fraud.' In February, Madigan was convicted of 10 of 23 counts, including marquee allegations that he agreed to squeeze lucrative, do-nothing contracts from ComEd for pals such as former Ald. Frank Olivo and Ald. Michael Zalewski and precinct captains Ray Nice and Edward Moody, all while the utility won a series of major legislation victories. Madigan was also convicted on six of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get former Ald. Daniel Solis, a key FBI mole who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board. Jurors deadlocked on all six counts related to Madigan's co-defendant former ComEd lobbyist Michael McClain.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds want lengthy 12 1/2-year prison sentence for ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan
CHICAGO — Calling former House Speaker Michael Madigan 'steeped in corruption,' federal prosecutors on Friday asked for a whopping 12 1/2-year prison term and $1.5 million fine for Madigan's conviction nearly four months ago on bribery and other conspiracy charges. 'The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade,' prosecutors wrote in their 72-page memo. 'Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit by trading his public office for private gain for himself and his associates, all the while carefully and deliberately concealing his conduct from detection.' Prosecutors also want U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to punish Madigan for what they say were a series of lies he told on the witness stand when he testified in his own defense in January. 'Madigan has expressed no remorse for his crimes, nor has he acknowledged the damage wrought by his conduct,' the filing stated. 'Indeed, Madigan went so far as to commit perjury at trial in an effort to avoid accountability, and he persists in framing his actions as nothing more than helping people.' If prosecutors were successful, Madigan would be around 94 years old when eligible for release given federal convicts must serve 85% of their incarceration time. Madigan's lawyers, meanwhile, are set to file their own sentencing recommendations later Friday. His sentencing is set for June 13. Madigan, 83, once the most powerful politician in the state, was convicted by a jury Feb. 12 on bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. The jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts, including one count of conspiracy related to a multipronged scheme to accept and solicit bribes from utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts. Madigan also was convicted on six out of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a key FBI mole who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board. But after 11 days of deliberation, the jury's final verdict was mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to Madigan's co-defendant, Michael McClain. The verdict came after a four-month trial and capped one of the most significant political corruption investigations in Chicago's sordid history. It also cemented an extraordinary personal fall for Madigan, the longest-serving state legislative leader in the nation's history who for decades held an iron-tight grip on the House as well as the state Democratic Party. ____
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Feds want lengthy 12 1/2-year prison sentence for ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan
Calling former House Speaker Michael Madigan 'steeped in corruption,' federal prosecutors on Friday asked for a whopping 12 1/2-year prison term and $1.5 million fine for Madigan's conviction nearly four months ago on bribery and other conspiracy charges. 'The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade,' prosecutors wrote in their 72-page memo. 'Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit by trading his public office for private gain for himself and his associates, all the while carefully and deliberately concealing his conduct from detection.' Prosecutors also want U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to punish Madigan for what they say were a series of lies he told on the witness stand when he testified in his own defense in January. 'Madigan has expressed no remorse for his crimes, nor has he acknowledged the damage wrought by his conduct,' the filing stated. 'Indeed, Madigan went so far as to commit perjury at trial in an effort to avoid accountability, and he persists in framing his actions as nothing more than helping people.' If prosecutors were successful, Madigan would be around 94 years old when eligible for release given federal convicts must serve 85 percent of their incarceration time. Madigan's lawyers, meanwhile, are set to file their own sentencing recommendations later Friday. His sentencing is set for June 13. Madigan, 83, once the most powerful politician in the state, was convicted by a jury Feb. 12 on bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. The jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts, including one count of conspiracy related to a multipronged scheme to accept and solicit bribes from utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts. Madigan also was convicted on six out of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a key FBI mole who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board. But after 11 days of deliberation, the jury's final verdict was mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to Madigan's co-defendant, Michael McClain. The verdict came after a four-month trial and capped one of the most significant political corruption investigations in Chicago's sordid history. It also cemented an extraordinary personal fall for Madigan, the longest-serving state legislative leader in the nation's history who for decades held an iron-tight grip on the House as well as the state Democratic Party. This is a developing story. Check back for details. jmeisner@
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Feds want lengthy 12 1/2-year prison sentence for ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan
Calling former House Speaker Michael Madigan 'steeped in corruption,' federal prosecutors on Friday asked for a whopping 12 1/2-year prison term and $1.5 million fine for Madigan's conviction nearly four months ago on bribery and other conspiracy charges. 'The crimes charged and proven at trial demonstrate that Madigan engaged in corrupt activity at the highest level of state government for nearly a decade,' prosecutors wrote in their 72-page memo. 'Time after time, Madigan exploited his immense power for his own personal benefit by trading his public office for private gain for himself and his associates, all the while carefully and deliberately concealing his conduct from detection.' Prosecutors also want U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to punish Madigan for what they say were a series of lies he told on the witness stand when he testified in his own defense in January. 'Madigan has expressed no remorse for his crimes, nor has he acknowledged the damage wrought by his conduct,' the filing stated. 'Indeed, Madigan went so far as to commit perjury at trial in an effort to avoid accountability, and he persists in framing his actions as nothing more than helping people.' If prosecutors were successful, Madigan would be around 94 years old when eligible for release given federal convicts must serve 85 percent of their incarceration time. Madigan's lawyers, meanwhile, are set to file their own sentencing recommendations later Friday. His sentencing is set for June 13. Madigan, 83, once the most powerful politician in the state, was convicted by a jury Feb. 12 on bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. The jury found him guilty on 10 of 23 counts, including one count of conspiracy related to a multipronged scheme to accept and solicit bribes from utility giant Commonwealth Edison. Jurors also convicted him on two counts of bribery and one Travel Act violation related to payments funneled to Madigan associates for do-nothing ComEd subcontracts. Madigan also was convicted on six out of seven counts — including wire fraud and Travel Act violations — regarding a plan to get ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a key FBI mole who testified at length in the trial, appointed to a state board. But after 11 days of deliberation, the jury's final verdict was mixed, deadlocking on several counts — including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge — and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to Madigan's co-defendant, Michael McClain. The verdict came after a four-month trial and capped one of the most significant political corruption investigations in Chicago's sordid history. It also cemented an extraordinary personal fall for Madigan, the longest-serving state legislative leader in the nation's history who for decades held an iron-tight grip on the House as well as the state Democratic Party.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
East Texas man found guilty after sex trafficking young women using social media
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – An East Texas man has been found guilty of 8 federal sex trafficking violations on Monday, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Abe McGlothin, Jr. said in a press release. For The Silent works to end sex trafficking, exploitation Corey Lamar Johnson, 42 of Jefferson, had a six-day trial in the court of U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker before the jury returned its verdict. Johnson was found guilty and convicted of: Two counts of sex trafficking Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking Obstructing a sex trafficking investigation three counts of interstate transportation for prostitution purposes and conspiring to violate the Travel Act. 'The defendant used violence and threats of violence to compel his victims to engage in commercial sex for his profit,' Assistant Attorney General with the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division Harmeet K. Dhillon said. 'There is no place in a civilized society for the defendant's inhumane conduct, and the Justice Department is committed to punishing human trafficking and achieving justice for its victims.' Johnson was one of three conspirators named in a federal grand jury indictment on June 15, 2023, which charged him and the others with sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, transportation, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to violate the Travel Act. Prosecutors in Johnson's trial presented evidence to show that Johnson was trafficking young women from across the United States to coerce them into commercial sex through force, threats and fraud. 'Johnson recruited vulnerable, young women through social media posts that boasted of his lavish lifestyle. He promised the victims he recruited that they could also achieve such a lifestyle,' McGlothlin's press release said. 'Once they were recruited, Johnson introduced the victims to commercial sex, and when the victims wanted to leave him, he became violent, using force and threats, brandishing firearms, and bragging about having 'beat' a murder charge, all to keep the victims engaged in commercial sex for his profit.' 3 arrested for promoting prostitution in Smith County after undercover operation Johnson faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of life in federal prison once he's sentenced. The case against Johnson was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, the Canton Police Department, the Chandler Police Department, the Arlington Police Department and the Bossier City Police Department. 'Congratulations to the team who brought Corey Johnson to a well-deserved appointment with justice,' said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. 'For far too long, the defendant treated vulnerable, young women in ways no person should ever be treated, but today justice was served. There is no more important work for the U.S. Attorney's Office than to rescue the oppressed and protect those who cannot protect themselves.' Anyone with information about human trafficking is asked to report what they know to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free by calling 1-888-373-7888 or by visiting the National Human Trafficking Hotline online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
