corruption in Illinois

Several members of Illinois's delegation to the United States Congress have been convicted of crimes.

• William Lorimer (R) U.S. Senator from 1909 to 1912. The Senate voted that Lorimer's election used corrupt practices and vote buying and declared it invalid. He was then removed from office.{{cite news |work = Chicago Daily Tribune |date = July 24, 1912 }}{{full|date=March 2022}}{{cite news |first = Ron |last = Grossman |date = December 3, 2017 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-flash-lorimer-william-senate-roy-moore-1203-20171127-story.html |title = How William Lorimer Was Expelled from the U.S. Senate |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = December 3, 2017 }}

• Frank L. Smith (R) won the 1926 senatorial election. A month later, incumbent senator William B. McKinley died, and governor Len Small appointed Smith to fill the vacancy for several months before beginning his elected term. However, the U.S. Senate voted not to seat Smith due to excessive spending and "fraud and corruption" during his campaign. Among other things, Smith, who was the chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, was accused of accepting a $125,000 campaign contribution from Samuel Insull, the owner of public utility corporations that the ICC was charged with regulating.{{Cite web | url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000534 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026045308/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000534 | url-status=dead | title=Smith, Frank Leslie – Biographical Information | archivedate=October 26, 2012 | website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Books/SmithBank.htm#0215.10 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223214203/http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Books/SmithBank.htm | url-status=dead | title= Frank L. Smith Bank, Dwight, Illinois | archivedate=February 23, 2017 | website=The Wright Library}}{{cite news | work = NBC Chicago | date = June 3, 2011 | title = The (Other) Man Who Tried to Buy a Senate Seat | url = https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/the-man-who-tried-to-buy-a-senate-seat/1902851/}}

• Dan Crane (R), a U.S. congressman from 1979 to 1985, was censured in the 1983 congressional page sex scandal for having sex with a young congressional page.{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/16/us/2-congressmen-face-constituents-judgement-on-reports-of-sex-with-pages.html |title = 2 Congressmen Face Constituents' Judgement on Reports of Sex with Pages |date = July 16, 1983 |work = The New York Times |access-date = December 7, 2016 }} Crane was defeated for re-election in 1984 and returned to dentistry.
• Dan Rostenkowski (D) was a U.S. congressman from Chicago for 36 years, from 1959 to 1995. He was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from 1981 to 1994. After a federal investigation he was accused of various acts of corruption, such as accepting kickbacks, using official funds for personal expenses, and participating in what became known as the Congressional Post Office scandal. In 1996 he pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud and was sentenced to 17 months in prison.{{cite news |first = David E. |last = Rosenbaum |date = April 10, 1996 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/10/us/rostenkowski-pleads-guilty-to-mail-fraud.html |title = Rostenkowski Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}{{cite news |first = Trevor |last = Jensen |date = August 11, 2010 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/08/11/former-rep-dan-rostenkowski-dead-at-82/ |title = Former Rep. Dan Rostenkowski Dead at 82 |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}
• Dennis Hastert (R) was a congressman from 1987 to 2007. He was the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House, from 1999 to 2007. In 2006, Hastert became embroiled in controversy over his championing of a $207-million federal earmark (inserted in the 2005 omnibus highway bill) for the Prairie Parkway, a proposed expressway running through his district.{{cite news |first = Melissa |last = McNamara |url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/speaker-hasterts-land-deal-questioned/ |title = Speaker Hastert's Land Deal Questioned |publisher = CBS |agency = Associated Press |date = June 22, 2006 }}{{cite news |first = Paul |last = Merrion |url = http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20060614/NEWS02/200020993/group-claims-hastert-benefited-from-highway-bill |title = Group claims Hastert benefited from highway bill |work = Crain's Chicago Business |date = June 14, 2006 }} The Sunlight Foundation accused Hastert of failing to disclose that the construction of the highway would benefit a land investment that Hastert and his wife made in nearby land in 2004 and 2005. Hastert received five-eighths of the proceeds of the sale of the land, turning a $1.8 million profit in under two years.{{cite news |first1 = James |last1 = Kimberly |first2 = Andrew |last2 = Zajac |name-list-style = amp |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-archives-how-hastert-benefited-from-real-estate-sale-20150528-story.html |title = From the archives: How Hastert benefited from real estate sale |work = Chicago Tribune |date = June 18, 2006 }} Hastert's ownership interest in the tract was not a public record because the land was held by a blind land trust, Little Rock Trust No. 225.{{cite news |first1 = Matea |last1 = Gold |first2 = Anu |last2 = Narayanswamy |name-list-style = amp |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-dennis-hastert-made-a-fortune-in-land-deals/2015/05/29/680f357a-0628-11e5-bc72-f3e16bf50bb6_story.html |title = How Dennis Hastert made a fortune in land deals |newspaper = The Washington Post |date = May 29, 2015 }} There were three partners in the trust: Hastert, Thomas Klatt, and Dallas Ingemunson. However, public documents only named Ingemunson, who was the Kendall County Republican Party chairman and Hastert's personal attorney and longtime friend. Hastert denied any wrongdoing. In October 2006, Norman Ornstein and Scott Lilly wrote that the Prairie Parkway affair was "worse than FoleyGate" and called for the Speaker's resignation.{{cite magazine |first1 = Norman |last1 = Ornstein |first2 = Scott |last2 = Lilly |name-list-style = amp |url = https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/open-government/news/2006/10/13/2227/worse-than-foleygate/ |title = Worse than FoleyGate |magazine = New Republic |date = October 13, 2006 |via = Center for American Progress }} In 2015, Hastert pleaded guilty to structuring bank withdrawals to evade bank reporting requirements, a felony. In 2016 he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. At his sentencing hearing, he admitted that he had molested several boys when he was a high school wrestling coach in the 1960s and 1970s, and that he had used the improperly withdrawn funds to buy the silence of one of the victims.{{cite news |first1 = Monica |last1 = Davey |first2 = Mitch |last2 = Smith |date = October 28, 2015 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/us/dennis-hastert-guilty-plea.html |title = Dennis Hastert, Ex-Speaker of House, Pleads Guilty to Banking Violation |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}{{cite news |last1 = Meisner |first1 = Jason |last2 = Coen |first2 = Jeff |last3 = Gutowski |first3 = Christy |name-list-style = amp |date = April 28, 2016 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-dennis-hastert-sentencing-20160427-story.html |title = Judge Calls Hastert 'Serial Child Molester', Gives Him 15 Months in Prison |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}
• Mel Reynolds (D) was a U.S. representative from 1993 to 1995. He resigned from Congress after being convicted of having sex with an underage campaign worker.{{cite news |agency = Associated Press |date = August 23, 1995 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/23/us/congressman-convicted-of-sexual-assault.html |title = Congressman Convicted of Sexual Assault |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = July 15, 2017 }} While serving a five-year prison sentence, Reynolds was convicted in 1997 of unrelated charges of bank fraud and using campaign finances for personal expenses.{{cite news |first = Matt |last = O'Connor |date = April 17, 1997 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-mel-reynolds-guilty-fraud-case-19970417-story.html |title = Reynolds Guilty of Fraud Counts |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2016 }} He received a {{frac|6|1|2}}-year sentence but was released in 2001 when his sentence was commuted by President Clinton.{{cite web |first = Carol |last = Felsenthal |date = November 30, 2012 |url = http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/November-2012/Mel-Reynolds-Got-Out-of-Jail-in-2001-Compliments-of-Bill-Clinton-Why/ |title = Mel Reynolds Got Out of Jail in 2001, Compliments of Bill Clinton. Why? |website = Chicago Magazine |access-date = July 15, 2017 }} In 2017 Reynolds was found guilty of failing to file federal income tax returns.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = September 28, 2017 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-mel-reynolds-tax-trial-20170928-story.html |title = Judge Finds Mel Reynolds Guilty on Tax Charges, Marking His Third Conviction |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = September 29, 2017 }} He received a six-month sentence for this third conviction.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = May 10, 2018 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-mel-reynolds-tax-evasion-sentencing-20180509-story.html |title = Mel Reynolds Given 6 Months in Prison, Says He's 'Done with America' |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = May 10, 2018 }}
• Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D) succeeded Mel Reynolds as congressman from Illinois's 2nd congressional district, serving from 1995 until his resignation in 2012. On February 8, 2013, Jackson admitted to violating federal campaign law by using campaign funds to make personal purchases.{{cite news |last = Rafferty |first = Andrew |title = Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. admits to campaign finance violations |url = http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/08/16900082-former-rep-jesse-jackson-jr-admits-to-campaign-finance-violations?lite |access-date = February 8, 2013 |publisher = NBC News |date = February 8, 2013 }} Jackson pleaded guilty on February 20, 2013, to one count of wire and mail fraud.{{cite news |title = Jackson Pleads Guilty to Wire and Mail Fraud |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/us/politics/jesse-l-jackson-jr-pleads-guilty-to-wire-and-mail-fraud.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0 |work = The New York Times |access-date = February 20, 2013 |first = Michael S. |last = Schmidt |date = February 20, 2013 }} On August 14, 2013, he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.{{cite news |title = Jesse Jackson Jr. sentenced to years |url = http://www.suntimes.com/21924478-761/jesse-jackson-jr-sandi-await-fate-at-federal-sentencing-hearing.html |work = Chicago Sun Times |access-date = August 14, 2013 }}
• Aaron Schock (R) represented {{ushr|IL|18}}, serving from 2009 until 2015. In March 2015, after controversy about his use of federal funds, Schock resigned from Congress. In November 2016, a federal grand jury indicted Schock on 24 criminal counts including theft of government funds, fraud, making false statements, and filing false tax returns.{{cite web |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-aaron-schock-indicted-20161110-story.html |title = Former U.S. Rep Aaron Schock indicted on 24 criminal counts |first = Katherine |last = Skiba |work = Chicago Tribune |date = November 10, 2016 |access-date = November 10, 2016 }} Schock pleaded "not guilty" to all charges when arraigned on Monday, December 12, 2016.{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-crime-idUSKBN1412S8 |title = Ex-Illinois congressman pleads not guilty to spending scandal |date = December 12, 2016 |work = Reuters }}{{Excerpt|Aaron_Schock|Prosecution|paragraphs=4|references=yes|inline=yes}}

• Len Small (R) the 26th governor, was found to have defrauded the state of a million dollars.{{cite book |title = Grafters and Goo Goos: Corruption and Reform in Chicago, 1833–2003 |last = Merriner |first = James L. |year = 2004 |publisher = Southern Illinois University Press |location = Carbondale |isbn = 978-0-8093-2571-9 |oclc = 52720998 }}
• Otto Kerner, Jr. (D) was 33rd Governor of Illinois, serving from 1961 to 1968. Following a 1973 trial in which his prosecutor was future Illinois governor James R. Thompson, Kerner was convicted on 17 counts of mail fraud, conspiracy, perjury, and related charges.{{cite book |title = How We Got Here: The '70s |last = Frum |first = David |author-link = David Frum |year = 2000 |publisher = Basic Books |location = New York |isbn = 0-465-04195-7 |page = [https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/29 29] |url = https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/29 |url-access = registration }} {{cns|date=March 2022|The federal bribery counts were dismissed. He was sentenced to three years in federal prison in Chicago and fined $50,000. Faced with almost certain impeachment, he resigned his position on the federal bench on July 22, 1974.}}
• Dan Walker (D) was the 36th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1973 to 1977. After leaving office he pursued various business interests, and acquired the First American Savings and Loan Association, which was later declared insolvent as part of the savings and loan crisis. In 1987 Walker pleaded guilty to bank fraud and perjury for receiving improper loans from First American. He was sentenced to seven years in prison,{{cite news |date = August 6, 1987 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/06/us/ex-illinois-governor-pleads-guilty-in-loan-fraud.html |title = Ex-Illinois Governor Pleads Guilty in Loan Fraud |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = July 14, 2017 }} and was released after serving a year and a half.{{cite news |first1 = Rick |last1 = Pearson |first2 = Bob |last2 = Secter |date = April 29, 2015 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-dan-walker-dead-20150429-story.html |title = Former Gov. Dan Walker, Colorful Populist, Dies at 92 |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}
• George Ryan (R) was the 39th governor of Illinois, serving from 1999 to 2003. Before that he was secretary of state from 1991 to 1999. In 2006 he was found guilty of fraud and racketeering charges for various acts that he committed in these two offices. He was sentenced to six and a half years in prison.{{cite news |first = David |last = Schaper |date = November 6, 2007 |url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16051850 |title = Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan Heading to Prison |publisher = NPR |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}
• Rod Blagojevich (D) was the 40th Governor of Illinois, serving from 2003 to 2009. He was the only Illinois governor to be impeached by the state House of Representatives and removed from office by the state Senate. In 2011 Blagojevich was found guilty of 18 counts of corruption, including attempting to sell or trade an appointment to fill Barack Obama's vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.{{cite news |first = Monica |last = Davey |date = December 7, 2011 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/us/blagojevich-expresses-remorse-in-courtroom-speech.html |title = Blagojevich Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = July 14, 2017 }} In February 2020, after he had served about eight years of his term, his sentence was commuted by then-president Donald Trump during his re-election campaign.{{cite news |first1 = Michael D. |last1 = Shear |first2 = Maggie |last2 = Haberman |name-list-style = amp |date = February 28, 2020 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/18/us/politics/trump-pardon-blagojevich-debartolo.html |title = Trump Grants Clemency to Blagojevich, Milken and Kerik |work = The New York Times |access-date = February 18, 2020 }}

• Orville Hodge (R) was the Auditor of Public Accounts (predecessor office to the Illinois Comptroller) from 1952 to 1956.{{cite web | url = http://www.ioc.state.il.us/Office/history.cfm | title = History of the Office | publisher = Illinois State Comptroller | location = Springfield, Illinois | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101108143948/http://www.ioc.state.il.us/Office/history.cfm | archive-date = 2010-11-08 }} During his term in office, he embezzled {{cns|date=March 2022|$6.15 million of}} state funds, mainly by altering and forging checks that were paid on the state's account.{{cite news | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/01/01/orville-hodge-auditor-who-robbed-state/ | date = January 1, 1987 | title = Orville Hodge, Auditor Who Robbed State | work = Chicago Tribune | location = Chicago, Illinois | edition = web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171116232419/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-01-01/sports/8701010079_1_mr-hodge-state-auditor-orville-hodge | archive-date = 2017-11-16 | url-status = live | access-date = 2022-03-31 }} {{cns|date=March 2022|Upon indictment, Hodge pleaded guilty to 54 bank fraud, embezzlement and forgery charges}} and was sentenced to a 12- to 15-year prison term, of which he served 6{{1/2}} years.

• Paul Powell (D) was the Secretary of State. Though his salary was never more than $30,000 per year, after he died in 1970, his hotel room was found to contain $750,000 in cash kept in shoe boxes, briefcases and strong boxes, while his office had $50,000 in cash as well as 19 cases of whiskey and $1 million in racing stocks. Powell left an estate of $4.6 million, which a federal investigation determined Powell had mostly acquired through bribes he received for giving noncompetitive state contracts to political associates.{{cite news |url = http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/12/10/5154/d%C3%A9j%C3%A0_vu_growing_up_with_chicago_pols_in_the_land_of_10000_snakes |title = Déjà vu: Growing up with Chicago pols in the 'Land of 10,000 Snakes' |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111027170318/http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/12/10/5154/d%C3%A9j%C3%A0_vu_growing_up_with_chicago_pols_in_the_land_of_10000_snakes |archive-date = October 27, 2011 |first = Steve |last = Aschburner |work = MinnPost |date = December 10, 2008 }}{{cite news |last = Grossman |first = Ron |title = From hero to bum in a flash |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/02/24/from-hero-to-bum-in-a-flash-2/ |access-date = December 25, 2013 |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |date = February 24, 2013 }}

• John F. Wall (R) State Representative from Chicago in District 23, was found guilty of conspiracy and attempted extortion for accepting a $2,000 bribe in exchange for laws benefitting private employment agencies. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. (1971){{cite news | work = The New York Times | date = May 16, 1975 | title = 2 Legislators Are Indicted In Illinois Extortion Case | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/16/archives/2-legislators-are-indicted-in-illinois-extortion-case.html}}{{cite news | publisher = chicagotribune.com | date = July 2, 1994 | title = JOHN F. WALL | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-07-02-9407020052-story.html}}{{cite web | url=http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/563/313/31602/ | title=United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Barney Grabiec, Defendant-appellant, 563 F.2d 313 (7th Cir. 1977) }}{{cite news | date = 1977 | title = The United States of America vs. Barney Grabiec, No. 76-2224 | author = The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh District | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HnRpefm2gZgC&dq=Barney+Grabiec+sentenced&pg=PA2}}

• Walter C. McAvoy (R) State Representative from Chicago, was convicted of extorting a $2,000 bribe from private employment agencies in return for favorable legislation. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. (1978){{cite news | publisher = chicagotribune.com | date = July 6, 1990 | title = EX-ILLINOIS REP. WALTER MCAVOY, 85 | author = Peter Kendall | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-07-06-9002250229-story.html}}

• William J. Scott (R) Attorney General convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to a year in prison (1982).{{cite web |url = http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-06-23/news/8602060848_1_william-j-scott-attorney-tax-return |title = Ex-attorney General William J. Scott |work = Sun Sentinel |access-date = October 25, 2014 |archive-date = October 25, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141025192322/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-06-23/news/8602060848_1_william-j-scott-attorney-tax-return |url-status = dead }}
• Jerome Cosentino (D) served two nonconsecutive terms as Illinois Treasurer, from 1979 to 1983, and from 1987 to 1991. In 1992 he pleaded guilty to defrauding two banks of several million dollars in a check kiting scheme.{{cite news |first = Matt |last = O'Connor |date = April 15, 1992 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/04/15/cosentino-to-plead-guilty-to-bank-fraud-charges/ |title = Cosentino to Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud Charges |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }} He was sentenced to nine months of home confinement.{{cite news |first1 = Ray |last1 = Gibson |first2 = Matt |last2 = O'Connor |name-list-style = amp |date = December 11, 1993 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/12/11/too-ill-for-prison-cosentino-still-does-business/ |title = Too Ill for Prison, Cosentino Still Does Business |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}

• Ron Stephens (Illinois politician) (R) State Representative from Greenville in the 102nd District, was arrested for DUI. He was found guilty, and since he had previous arrests for drug abuse, he was given 12 months of supervision, his license was revoked and he was required to take monthly drug tests. He then resigned his seat. (2010){{cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ron_Stephens,_Illinois_Representative | title=Ron Stephens, Illinois Representative }}{{cite news |title='Ill Rep Stephens keeps pharmacist license, must submit to drug tests for DUI' |url=http://www2.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_bdb1724a-894b-11df-a244-00127992bc8b.html |date=July 6, 2010}}stltoday.com | May 12, 2010 | Ron Stephens pleads guilty to dui | KEVIN McDERMOTT | [http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/ron-stephens-pleads-guilty-to-dui/article_f69396d7-3fd1-56a4-b271-d435a792e271.html]

• Frank Mautino (D) is, {{as of|2022|lc=y}}, the Auditor General, the state's chief financial watchdog. In May 2017 his former legislative campaign was fined $5,000 for willfully failing to provide information to an investigation of the campaign's spending.{{cite news |first = Monique |last = Garcia |date = May 15, 2017 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-frank-mautino-auditor-fine-met-0516-20170515-story.html |title = Top Illinois Auditor Fined $5,000 After Campaign Probe |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}

• Nick Sauer (R) State Representative from the 51st District, was accused by his ex-girlfriend of posting revenge porn pictures on a fake Instagram account. Top GOP leaders urged him to resign, which he did. (2018){{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/illinois-lawmaker-nick-sauer-resigns-revenge-porn-allegations/|title=Illinois lawmaker Nick Sauer quits amid revenge porn allegations |publisher= cbsnews.com| date= August 2, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Sauer Resigns|date=August 1, 2018|newspaper=Capitol Fax|url=https://capitolfax.com/2018/08/01/sauer-resigns/}}{{cite news | publisher = politico.com| date = August 1, 2018| title = Illinois lawmaker accused of releasing nude photos of ex-girlfriend| url = https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/illinois-lawmaker-nude-photos-754563/}}

• Martin Sandoval (D) was a state senator and chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. In 2020 he pleaded guilty to bribery and tax evasion, admitting that he had taken more than $250,000 in bribes in exchange for actions favorable to SafeSpeed, a red light camera company.{{cite news |first = Dave |last = McKinney |date = January 28, 2020 |url = https://www.npr.org/local/309/2020/01/28/800487607/former-illinois-state-sen-martin-sandoval-pleads-guilty-to-bribery-tax-evasion |title = Former Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval Pleads Guilty to Bribery, Tax Evasion |work = NPR |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}{{cite news |first1 = Jason |last1 = Meisner |first2 = Megan |last2 = Crepeau |first3 = Joe |last3 = Mahr |name-list-style = amp |date = April 2, 2020 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-ex-state-sen-martin-sandoval-guilty-20200128-xhgdh565ejaqla7lfjnxcpb2n4-story.html |title = Guilty Plea Lays Bare Ex-State Sen. Martin Sandoval's Greed in Red-Light Camera Bribery Scheme. 'So Why Don't I Get That Offer?' |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = December 5, 2020 }}

• Luis Arroyo (D) was a state representative. He resigned in 2019 after being charged with bribery for accepting payments to promote legislation favorable to the proliferation of sweepstakes machines. In 2021 he pleaded guilty.{{cite news |first1 = Jason |last1 = Meisner |first2 = Ray |last2 = Long |name-list-style = amp |date = November 3, 2021 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-state-rep-luis-arroyo-bribery-guilty-plea-20211103-o76phbifmzdxnpbjq2hnsvw6mq-story.html |title = Ex-State Rep. Luis Arroyo Pleads Guilty in Bribery Case Tied to Sweepstakes Machines |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = November 4, 2021 }} In 2022 he was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Masterson |date=May 25, 2022 |url=https://news.wttw.com/2022/05/25/ex-state-rep-luis-arroyo-gets-nearly-5-years-prison-sweepstakes-bribery-scheme |title=Ex-State Rep. Luis Arroyo Gets Nearly 5 Years in Prison for Sweepstakes Bribery Scheme |work=WTTW |access-date=May 29, 2022}}

• Terry Link (D) was a state senator from 1997 to 2020, when he pleaded guilty to income tax evasion. He also admitted to spending campaign finance money on gambling. In exchange for a lighter sentence, Link cooperated with the FBI in its case against Luis Arroyo (see above).{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Meisner |date=September 16, 2020 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-state-senator-terry-link-federal-tax-charge-arraignment-20200916-r5xjwwopvvg37a7ugevg7a7hne-story.html |title=Former State Sen. Terry Link Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion Charge in Federal Court |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=July 2, 2023}}{{cite news |first=Jon |last=Seidel |date=June 27, 2023 |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/6/27/23775269/sentencing-of-former-state-sen-terry-link-set-for-october |title=Sentencing of Former State Sen. Terry Link Set for October |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=July 2, 2023}}

• Sam McCann (R) was a state senator from 2011 to 2019. In 2024 he pled guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion for using more than $200,000 from his campaign fund for his own personal expenses. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.{{cite web| work=U.S. Department of Justice| date=February 16, 2024| title=Former Illinois State Senator, Gubernatorial Candidate Sam McCann Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Use of Campaign Funds, Money Laundering, Tax Evasion| author=Central District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney's Office| url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/former-illinois-state-senator-gubernatorial-candidate-sam-mccann-pleads-guilty}}{{Cite web |title=In last-minute reversal, former Sen. Sam McCann pleads guilty to corruption charges |url=https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/in-last-minute-reversal-former-sen-sam-mccann-pleads-guilty-to-corruption-charges |first=Hanna |last=Meisel |date=February 16, 2024 |website=Capitol News Illinois |language=en-US}}{{cite news |first=Patrick M. |last=Keck |date=July 10, 2024 |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/07/10/former-illinois-senator-sam-mccann-sentenced-on-wire-fraud-charges/74149018007/ |title=Former Illinois State Senator Sentenced for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering |work=The State Journal-Register |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722085054/https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/07/10/former-illinois-senator-sam-mccann-sentenced-on-wire-fraud-charges/74149018007/ |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=January 19, 2025}}

• Mike Madigan (D) was the speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1983 to 1995 and from 1997 to 2021, a total of 36 years. In 2025 he was convicted of bribery, wire fraud, and Travel Act violations. A federal jury found that he had conspired to have ComEd officials pay $1.3 million to his allies over eight years in exchange for favorable treatment of legislation affecting the company, and had plotted to install former Chicago alderman Daniel Solis on a state board in exchange for Solis's help securing private business for Madigan's law firm.{{cite news |author=Seidel, Jon; Sfondeles, Tina; Hendrickson, Matthew; McKinney, Dave; Struett, David; Sherry, Sophie |date=February 12, 2025 |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/mike-madigan-guilty-verdict#00000194-fb59-d2bd-a3d5-fffdd3690000 |title=Once a Political Giant, Madigan Now a Convicted Felon and Likely Prison Inmate – But Not a Racketeer |work=Chicago Sun-Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214224505/https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/mike-madigan-guilty-verdict#00000194-fb59-d2bd-a3d5-fffdd3690000 |archive-date=February 14, 2025 |url-status=live |access-date=February 16, 2025}}{{cite news |author=Meisner, Jason; Crepeau, Megan; Long, Ray |date=February 13, 2025 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/12/michael-madigan-verdict-convicted/ |title=No Sweep for Either Side, but Madigan Jury's Split Verdict Still Offers 'Historic' Corruption Conviction |work=Chicago Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214224504/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/12/michael-madigan-verdict-convicted/ |archive-date=February 14, 2025 |url-status=live |access-date=February 16, 2025}}

• In 1984, a federal task force known as Operation Greylord investigated corruption and malfeasance in the Cook County court system. Dozens of people, including judges, attorneys, police officers, and court officials, were eventually convicted of various crimes.{{cite web | url = https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/operation-greylord | title = Operation Greylord | publisher = Federal Bureau of Investigation | location = Washington, D.C. | access-date = 2022-03-31 }}
• In the 1990s, Operation Silver Shovel was an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation into political corruption in Chicago. Eighteen individuals, including six aldermen, were convicted of crimes. "At its conclusion, Silver Shovel had uncovered everything from labor union corruption to drug trafficking and organized crime activity," according to the FBI.{{cite news |first1 = Matt |last1 = O'Connor |first2 = Ray |last2 = Gibson |name-list-style = amp |date = January 12, 1996 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-01-12-9604180346-story.html |title = Operation Silver Shovel |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = February 4, 2019 }}{{cite web |url = http://chicago.fbi.gov/silvershovel/silvershovel.htm |title = Operation Silver Shovel |publisher = Federal Bureau of Investigation |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081011122000/http://chicago.fbi.gov/silvershovel/silvershovel.htm |archive-date = October 11, 2008 |access-date = February 4, 2019 }}
• Fred Roti (D) served as an Illinois state senator (1951–1957).{{cite book |last = Fremon |first = David |title = Chicago Politics Ward by Ward |publisher = Indiana University Press |year = 1988 |isbn = 0-253-31344-9 |page = 26 }} When his seat was lost to redistricting, he returned to precinct work, and took a patronage job as a drain inspector with the City Department of Water and Sewers.{{cite news |first1 = Sandy |last1 = Smith |first2 = Thomas |last2 = Powers |name-list-style = amp |title = 11 in Roti Clan Get City Jobs |work = Chicago Tribune |date = December 29, 1959 |page = 1 }} In 1990 Roti was indicted for racketeering and extortion. On January 15, 1993, after deliberating {{frac|2|1|2}} days, a federal jury convicted Roti of taking thousands of dollars in bribes. The jury convicted him on all 11 counts of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, bribery and extortion. The jury found him guilty of two out of three "fixing" charges, convicting him of taking $10,000 for influencing a civil court case and $7,500 to support a routine zoning change, both in 1989. But the jury cleared him of the most serious allegation, sharing $72,500 for fixing a Chinatown murder trial in 1981.{{cite news |first = Matt |last = O'Connor |title = Roti joins aldermen's hall of shame |work = Chicago Tribune |date = January 16, 1993 |page = 1 }}{{cite news |first = Gary |last = Washburn |date = September 21, 1999 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/09/21/fred-roti-1920-1999/ |title = Fred Roti 1920-1999 |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = April 4, 2018 }}
• Betty Loren-Maltese (R){{cite web |date = Spring 1993 |url = http://www.ipsn.org/ipsnciceronew2.htm |title = Cicero 'Windows to the World' Betty Loren-Maltese |website = Illinois Police and Sheriffs News |access-date = April 11, 2018 |archive-date = September 24, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040044/http://www.ipsn.org/ipsnciceronew2.htm }} was the town president of Cicero from 1993 to 2002. She was convicted of helping to steal $12 million from a municipal insurance fund, and in 2003 was sentenced to eight years in prison. Cicero police chief Emil Schullo was among several others who served time for participating in the same scheme.{{cite news |first = John W. |last = Fountain |date = January 10, 2003 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/10/us/top-official-in-cicero-ill-gets-8-years-in-fund-theft.html |title = Top Official in Cicero, Ill., Gets 8 Years in Fund Theft |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}
• Nicholas Blase served as mayor of Niles for 47 years, from 1961 to 2008. He resigned amid federal charges that he participated in an insurance kickback scheme.{{cite news |first = Jeff |last = Long |date = August 26, 2008 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/08/26/niles-mayor-quits-and-his-trial-canceled/ |title = Indicted 47-Year Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase Retires at 80 |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }} Several months later he pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion, and admitted that he had pressured local businesses to buy insurance from a friend's agency in return for a share of the commissions, receiving more than $420,000 over a period of more than 30 years.{{cite news |first1 = Azam |last1 = Ahmed |first2 = Kristen |last2 = Kridel |name-list-style = amp |date = November 2, 2008 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/11/02/ex-niles-mayor-pleads-guilty-in-lengthy-kickback-scheme/ |title = Ex-Niles Mayor Pleads Guilty in Kickback Scheme |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }} In 2010 Blase, then 81 years old, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.{{cite news |first = Joel |last = Coen |date = January 29, 2010 |url = http://articles.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010-01-29/news/28528521_1_kickback-scheme-federal-prison-niles-businesses |title = Ex-Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase Gets Year and a Day |newspaper = Chicago Breaking News |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}
• Rita Crundwell (R) comptroller and treasurer for Dixon was arrested for fraud in 2012 after embezzling about $54 million over many years. The money was used to support a lavish lifestyle and her horse ranch, the Meri-J.{{cite news |first1 = Andy |last1 = Grimm |first2 = Melissa |last2 = Jenco |name-list-style = amp |date = April 18, 2012 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/04/18/small-town-rocked-by-30-million-theft-case/ |title = Small Town Rocked by $30 Million Theft Case |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120420123739/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-18/news/ct-met-dixon-comptroller-embezzle-charges-20120418_1_horse-farms-champion-horse-fbi-agents |archive-date = April 20, 2012 }} She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in prison.{{cite news |first = Melissa |last = Jenco |date = November 15, 2013 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-appeal-denied-for-dixon-comptroller-who-looted-town-of-nearly-54-million-20131115-story.html |title = Appeal Denied for Dixon Comptroller Who Looted Town of Nearly $54 Million |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}
• William Beavers (D) was a Cook County commissioner from 2006 to 2013. Before that he was a Chicago alderman from 1983 to 2006. In 2013 he was convicted of failing to pay taxes on hundreds of thousands of dollars he took out of his campaign fund and used for gambling and other personal expenses. He served a six-month sentence.{{cite news |first = Steve |last = Schmadeke |date = June 30, 2014 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-william-beavers-conviction-upheld-20140630-story.html |title = Appeals Court Upholds Beavers' Conviction |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}
• Barbara Byrd-Bennett (D) was the head of Chicago's cash-strapped public school system. In 2015, she resigned over a $20,500,000 no-bid contract to her former employer SUPES Academy. She subsequently pled guilty to multiple charges{{cite news |last1 = Meisner |first1 = Jason |last2 = Perez |first2 = Juan Jr. |name-list-style = amp |title = Ex-CPS Chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett Pleads Guilty, Tearfully Apologizes to Students |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-barbara-byrd-bennett-plea-met-1013-20151012-story.html |access-date = October 13, 2015 |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |date = October 13, 2015 }} and was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.{{cite news |first = Brandis |last = Friedman |date = August 24, 2017 |url = http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/08/24/barbara-byrd-bennett-headed-camp-cupcake-45-year-sentence |title = Barbara Byrd-Bennett Headed to 'Camp Cupcake' for 4.5-Year Sentence |publisher = WTTW |access-date = August 26, 2017 }}
• In 2016, the state of Illinois filed a lawsuit against mayor Eric Kellogg and other officials of the city of Harvey, calling for an investigation into allegations of corruption and financial issues. The lawsuit also asked the court to invalidate the mayor's unilateral removal of several aldermen who opposed him.{{cite news |first = Lorraine |last = Bailey |date = December 12, 2016 |url = http://www.courthousenews.com/scandal-plagued-chicago-suburb-finally-faces-state-scrutiny/ |title = Scandal-Plagued Chicago Suburb Faces State Scrutiny |publisher = Courthouse News Service |access-date = July 14, 2017 }}{{update after|2022|4|1}}
• Mayor of Markham, David Webb (R) pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and income tax evasion, in connection with a $300,000 bribery scheme.{{cite news |first1 = Sarah |last1 = Freishtat |first2 = Gregory |last2 = Pratt |name-list-style = amp |date = January 18, 2018 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-former-markham-mayor-pleads-guilty-st-0119-20180118-story.html |title = Ex-Markham Mayor Pleads Guilty to $300,000 Bribery Scheme, May Go to Prison |newspaper = Daily Southtown |access-date = April 6, 2018 }} In 2021 he was sentenced to two years in prison.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = June 22, 2021 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-markham-mayor-david-webb-corruption-sentence-20210622-ec4ym3bgmrfajctlblj72dqbeu-story.html |title = Ex-Markham Mayor David Webb Jr. Gets 2 Years in Prison in Bribery Scheme that Included Cash-Filled Coffee Cups |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = June 24, 2021 }}
• In 2019 Donald Schupek pleaded guilty to embezzling $27,000 from the village of Posen when he was the mayor there.{{cite news |first = Zak |last = Koeske |date = June 13, 2019 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/ct-sta-former-posen-mayor-pleads-guilty-st-0614-story.html |title = Ex-Posen Mayor Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Village Funds |work = Daily Southtown |access-date = June 15, 2019 }}
• In 2021 Louis Presta, (R) the mayor of Crestwood, resigned and pleaded guilty to taking a $5,000 cash bribe for favorable treatment of SafeSpeed, a red light camera company that did business with the town.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = November 17, 2021 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-crestwood-mayor-louis-presta-guilty-bribery-red-light-camera-probe-20211117-3bxerf4mxzc3rhfdxgqr4iswri-story.html |title = Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta Resigns, Pleads Guilty to Bribery in Red-Light Camera Probe |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = November 17, 2021 }} In 2022 he was sentenced to a year in prison.{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Meisner |date=April 25, 2022 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-crestwood-mayor-louis-presta-red-light-camera-bribery-sentencing-20220401-sbqhxnh7wbglhoqbf6rjeb7ik4-story.html |title=Ex-Crestwood Mayor Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison in Red Light-Camera Bribery Probe |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=April 25, 2022}}{{https://www.elections.il.gov/campaigndisclosure/CandidateDetailCD.aspx?ID=I36hSAYO%2FPGxcctS0z1xrA%3D%3D}}
• Tony Ragucci (I)was mayor of Oakbrook Terrace from 2009 to 2020. In 2022 he pleaded guilty to taking $88,000 in a red light camera kickback scheme.{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Meisner |date=May 23, 2022 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-oakbrook-terrace-mayor-tony-ragucci-guilty-plea-red-light-camera-fraud-20220523-gcryjowjyrhodijzfaxq6k25zu-story.html |title=Ex-Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci Admits to Taking $88,000 in Red Light Camera Scheme; Alleged Co-Conspirators Plead Not Guilty |work=Chicago Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523234748/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-oakbrook-terrace-mayor-tony-ragucci-guilty-plea-red-light-camera-fraud-20220523-gcryjowjyrhodijzfaxq6k25zu-story.html |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |access-date=May 23, 2022}}{{https://www.elections.il.gov/campaigndisclosure/CandidateDetailCD.aspx?ID=02cogfS5xd4ABtNcgs%2BmRA%3D%3D}}
• An ongoing 2024 investigation into misused public funds by Dolton, Illinois mayor Tiffany Henyard, led by former Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot, revealed that the village's general funds had a negative balance of $3,650,000, with notice being drawn to overtime payments to three Dolton police officers and one-day spendings of $40,000 on unaccountable goods from Amazon.{{cite web |first1=Mugo |last1=Odigwe |first2=Jermont |last2=Terry |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/lori-lightfoot-to-release-findings-in-investigation-into-doltons-mayor-spending/ |title=Lori Lightfoot finds Dolton, Illinois is over $3.5 million in the red as she probes village mayor's spending |date=9 August 2024 |publisher=CBS News |access-date=10 August 2024 }}

According to The Economist{{'}}s profile of Edward Burke, "Criminality among the city's 50 aldermen is also astonishingly common."{{cite news |title = On the Make by the Lake. Chicago's Political System is Set up to Produce Corruption |newspaper = The Economist |date = January 10, 2019 }} Dozens of Chicago aldermen (city council members) have been convicted of corruption-related crimes.{{harvp|Gradel|Simpson|2015|p=41}}{{cite news |date = February 24, 2012 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-aldermen-convicted-0224-20120224-story.html |title = Chicago's 'Hall of Shame' |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}{{cite news |date = December 14, 2016 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-convicted-aldermen-htmlstory.html |title = Chicago Aldermen and Corruption Cases: Hall of Shame |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = April 4, 2018 }}{{cite news |author = |date = April 30, 2021 |url = https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/04/30/a-list-of-chicago-aldermen-indicted-raided-or-implicated-by-the-feds-criminally-charged-or-convicted-since-2019/ |title = A List of Chicago Aldermen Indicted, Raided or Implicated by the Feds, Criminally Charged or Convicted Since 2019 |work = Block Club Chicago |access-date = May 1, 2021 }}{{cite news |author= |date=December 22, 2023 |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2022/2/15/22935974/burke-daley-thompson-corrupt-aldermen-council-cochran-vrdolyak-hubbard-keane-chicago-convicted |title=Chicago City Council Hall of Shame: Ed Burke Becomes 38th Member Convicted in Half a Century |work=Chicago Sun-Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222224510/https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2022/2/15/22935974/burke-daley-thompson-corrupt-aldermen-council-cochran-vrdolyak-hubbard-keane-chicago-convicted |archive-date=December 22, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=December 24, 2023}}

• Thomas E. Keane (D), chairman of the Chicago City Council Finance Committee, was convicted in 1974 of mail fraud and conspiracy charges associated with questionable real estate deals. He was sentenced to five years in prison, and served a 22-month term.{{cite news |first = Robert |last = Davis |date = September 11, 1996 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/09/11/former-ald-thomas-e-keane/ |title = Former Ald. Thomas E. Keane |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = April 6, 2018 }}
• William Carothers was convicted in 1983 of extorting as much as $32,500 in remodeling work for his ward office from the builders of Bethany Hospital. He was sentenced to three years in prison.{{cite news |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-johistpolschargedwar20100131093600-photo.html |title = William Carothers |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}
• Edward Vrdolyak (D, then R) was an alderman from 1971 to 1987. In 2008 he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud for accepting a 1.5 million dollar kickback in a real estate scheme. He was sentenced to ten months in prison.{{cite news |first = Andy |last = Grimm |date = January 19, 2011 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-vrdolyak-reports-to-federal-pr-01192011,0,5619735.story |title = Vrdolyak Reports to Federal Prison |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110122082211/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-vrdolyak-reports-to-federal-pr-01192011,0,5619735.story |archive-date = January 22, 2011 }} In 2019 Vrdolyak pleaded guilty to charges of income tax evasion connected to the state of Illinois's tobacco lawsuit settlement in the 1990s.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = March 7, 2019 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-eddie-vrdolyak-guilty-20190305-story.html |title = Ex-Ald. 'Fast Eddie' Vrdolyak Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for a Second Time in Little Over a Decade |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = March 8, 2019 }} He was sentenced to another 18 months in prison.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = December 4, 2020 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-edward-vrdolyak-tobacco-settlement-sentence-20201204-sli2apcbgvg3ze4mrzanjr32ga-story.html |title = Former Chicago Ald. Edward 'Fast Eddie' Vrdolyak Gets 18 Months in Federal Prison in Tax Case Related to Tobacco Settlement |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = December 4, 2020 }}
• Isaac "Ike" Carothers (D) was an alderman from 1999 to 2010. He resigned after pleading guilty to accepting $40,000 in home improvements for backing a controversial project in his ward. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison. Isaac Carothers is the son of William Carothers, an alderman who was convicted of a similar crime in 1983.{{cite news |last1 = Coen |first1 = Jeff |last2 = Lighty |first2 = Todd |last3 = Dardick |first3 = Hal |name-list-style = amp |date = February 2, 2010 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/02/02/carothers-joins-list-of-shame/ |title = Carothers Joins List of Shame |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}{{cite news |first = Todd |last = Lighty |date = June 24, 2010 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/06/24/carothers-sentenced-to-28-months/ |title = Carothers Sentenced to 28 Months |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 15, 2017 }}
• Willie Cochran (D), a former police officer, was elected alderman in 2007. In 2016 he was charged in a 15-count indictment with stealing funds "meant for poor children and seniors", taking bribes, and other crimes.{{cite news |last1 = Meisner |first1 = Jason |last2 = Gorner |first2 = Jeremy |last3 = Dardick |first3 = Hal |name-list-style = amp |date = December 14, 2016 |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-alderman-willie-cochran-indicted-20161214-story.html |title = Ald. Willie Cochran Indicted on Thefts from Ward Charity |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = July 14, 2017 }} In 2019 he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = March 21, 2019 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-alderman-willie-cochran-guilty-20190320-story.html |title = Ald. Willie Cochran Pleads Guilty – Finally – to Federal Fraud Charge for Misusing Campaign Funds |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = March 21, 2019 }} He was sentenced to one year in prison.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = June 24, 2019 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-ex-ald-willie-cochran-sentenced-20190624-rttcfehcvfhhpd37uz74cvad6u-story.html |title = Defiant Ex-Ald. Willie Cochran Given 1 Year in Prison, Accuses Prosecutors of Misconduct: 'There's No Justice in This' |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = June 24, 2019 }}
• Ricardo Muñoz (D) was an alderman from 1993 to 2019. In 2021 he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, admitting that he had spent cash from a political fund on personal items such as sports tickets, meals and travel.{{cite news |first=Madeline |last=Buckley |date=September 27, 2021 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-ex-alderman-ricardo-munoz-plea-hearing-20210927-7usenksymnfjvefjl3hlbigxni-story.html |title=Former Ald. Ricardo Muñoz Pleads Guilty to Spending Campaign Funds on Sports, Travel and Other Personal Items |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=March 18, 2022}} In 2022 he was sentenced to 13 months in prison.{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Meisner |date=March 17, 2022 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-ald-ricardo-munoz-federal-fraud-sentencing-20220317-2j2wydj2frfjboefl3ufeamw3q-story.html |title=Ex-Ald. Ricardo Muñoz Sentenced to 13 Months in Prison for Spending Thousands of Dollars in Political Funds on Tuition, Trips and Sports Tickets |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=March 18, 2022}}
• Patrick Daley Thompson (D) is the grandson of Richard J. Daley and the nephew of Richard M. Daley, both of whom served as mayor of Chicago. Thompson was the alderman of the 11th Ward from 2015 to 2022. He resigned after being convicted in federal court of income tax evasion and of lying to regulators about a bank line of credit that he received.{{cite news |first = Jason |last = Meisner |date = February 14, 2022 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-ald-patrick-daley-thompson-federal-trial-closing-arguments-20220214-okbixopv2bhcddwqtmaxatasze-story.html |title = Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson's Conviction on Tax Charges Connected to Loan From Failed Bank Adds Chapter to Family's Political Legacy |work = Chicago Tribune |access-date = February 14, 2022 }} He was sentenced to four months in prison.{{cite news |first1=Megan |last1=Crepeau |first2=Jason |last2=Meisner |date=July 6, 2022 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-patrick-daley-thompson-sentenced-20220706-pboewycvrrf5bgr4u2luwxbaze-story.html |title=Former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson Sentenced to Four Months in Prison in Tax Case |work=Chicago Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711113252/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-patrick-daley-thompson-sentenced-20220706-pboewycvrrf5bgr4u2luwxbaze-story.html |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 11, 2022}}
• Edward M. Burke was the alderman of Chicago's 14th ward from 1969 to 2023, the longest-serving Chicago city council member in history. On December 21, 2023, in a federal trial, he was convicted of 13 counts of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion.{{cite news |first1=Jon |last1=Seidel |first2=Mariah |last2=Woelfel |date=December 21, 2023 |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/12/21/24006969/ed-burke-verdict-chicago-corruption-bribery-danny-solis |title=Ed Burke ‘Had His Hand Out for Money.’ Powerful Politician Convicted of Extortion, Bribery in Historic Verdict |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=December 22, 2023}}{{cite news |first=Colin |last=Boyle |date=December 21, 2023 |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/12/21/ed-burke-guilty-of-racketeering-in-federal-corruption-trial/ |title=Ed Burke Guilty Of Racketeering In Federal Corruption Trial |work=Block Club Chicago |access-date=December 22, 2023}} On June 24, 2024, he was sentenced to two years in prison.{{cite news |first1=Jon |last1=Seidel |first2=Mariah |last2=Woelfel |date=June 24, 2024 |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/live/ed-burke-trial-alderman-edward-m-burke-news-verdict-sentence |title=Ed Burke Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison on Corruption Charges |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=June 24, 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |first1 = Thomas J. |last1 = Gradel |first2 = Dick |last2 = Simpson |name-list-style = amp |title = Corrupt Illinois: Patronage, Cronyism, and Criminality |publisher = University of Illinois Press |year = 2015}}

{{Illinois}}

Illinois

Category:Political history of Illinois