News Story
Gov. Blago Campaign Targeted Chicago Trib Owner for $25,000
The feds are interested in this part of the case and have interviewed Sam Zell, owner of the Chicago Tribune. Interestingly, it was the Chicago Sun-Times, the competing newspaper in town that broke this story. Thank goodness for two-newspaper towns. BY NATASHA KORECKI, DAVE MCKINNEY AND DAVID ROEDER Chicago Sun-Times CHICAGO — Tribune Co. chairman…
Fed Judge Gives ex-Chicago Cop 12 Years in Mob Case
Here’s a police department that could use an upgrade when it comes to its reputation. Previously allegations of torture. Citizen beatings. And now a conviction like this. Not good. By STEVE WARMBIR Chicago Sun-Times CHICAGO –A man can be a good cop one day, a corrupt one the next, a federal judge noted as he…
Dead Butterflies and Federal Prison?
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Michigan Dentist Kevin Rucinski may have the butterflies when he gets sentenced in federal court in Bay City later this year. And for good reason. The affable dentist in the quaint little Northern Michigan community of Roscommon pleaded guilty earlier this month to violating the Endangered Species Act by buying rare…
FBI Arrests ex-D.C. Official in Bribery Sting
The D.C. government is just recovering from its Tax office scandal in which about $50 million was stolen. Now we have another scandal, though thankfully it doesn’t match up to the tax scandal. By Del Quentin Wilber and Nikita Stewart Washington Post Staff Writers WASHINGTON — A D.C. government official and a business executive were…
FBI Agent Says Recent Terrorism Attacks Could Encourage al Qaeda and Others
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — The FBI’s James McJunkin told a Congressional Committee Thursday that the “principal lesson from the Mumbai attacks remains that a small number of trained and determined attackers with relatively unsophisticated weapons can do a great deal of damage.” “Last week’s attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahaore,…
Suspected Mexican Drug Smuggler Whose Brother Killed DEA Agent Pleads Not Guilty In Colo.
Here’s just another sign of Mexico’s long reach into the U.S. drug trade. The Associated Press DENVER-A suspected drug smuggler from Mexico whose brother was convicted of killing a U.S. drug agent has pleaded not guilty to racketeering and marijuana charges. Miguel Angel Caro-Quintero entered his plea Thursday in a heavily guarded federal courtroom in…
It’s Off to Prison for Bernie Madoff After Pleading GUILTY!
Bernie Madoff, one of the saddest figures of our times, is finally headed to prison after living far too long in his New York penthouse. Now the question is whether his wife will get to keep anything and whether she knew what was going on. She may end up being sort of a Carmela Soprano…
Fed and State Prosecutors Preparing For Surge of Financial Fraud Cases
We knew mortgage fraud in this country had spun out of control and we certainly remember Enron. But Bernie Madoff was a signal that fraud in this nation was so pervasive that more needed to be done. The public is demanding it and it looks like the fed and state prosecutors are starting to respond….