Indicted Chicago alderman pleads not guilty
CHICAGO — The chairman of the Chicago City Council’s police and fire committee pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he accepted home repairs worth $40,000 plus campaign money and sports tickets in exchange for fixing a zoning case.
Alderman Isaac Carothers, 54, appeared briefly before U.S. Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow and was allowed to remain free on $4,500 bail.
Speaking to reporters outside court, his attorney, Lawrence S. Beaumont, would neither confirm nor deny that Carothers was cooperating with federal prosecutors in a corruption investigation.
Beaumont said Carothers would continue representing his 29th Ward while under indictment. “He has been representing it very effectively,” Beaumont said.
Carothers declined to comment.
Court papers filed earlier say an unidentified individual wore a hidden microphone to make secret recordings at the request of prosecutors. The individual was not identified but the description in the court papers fit Carothers closely.
According to a May 28 indictment, Carothers was key in changing the zoning of a 50-acre undeveloped site on the city’s West Side. In exchange, he allegedly got $40,000 worth of painting, windows, doors and other home improvements. He also allegedly got meals and tickets to sporting events as well as campaign money for his ward organization and for a relative who was running for Congress.
Authorities allege that developer Calvin Boender paid the bribes. He also pleaded not guilty and was freed on $3 million bail.
The alderman’s father, William Carothers, was convicted of federal corruption charges in the early 1980s.
Related News
Prominent Southeast developer pleads not guilty in wife's death in Fla. mansionOctober 8th, 2009 Developer pleads not guilty in wife's Fla. deathORLANDO, Fla.
Former chauffeur for slain Conn. real estate mogul pleads not guilty to stabbing him to deathOctober 6th, 2009 Ex-driver pleads not guilty to killing Conn. mogulSTAMFORD, Conn.
Bosnian pleads guilty in beating of upstate NY college student that sparked diplomatic crisisSeptember 30th, 2009 Man pleads guilty in assault of NY college studentBINGHAMTON, N.Y. — A Bosnian man accused in the near-fatal beating of a Binghamton University student has pleaded guilty in New York to felony assault.
Hartford, Conn., councilwoman pleads not guilty in probe involving mayorSeptember 18th, 2009 Conn. councilwoman pleads not guiltyHARTFORD, Conn. — A city councilwoman has pleaded not guilty to a charge in the Connecticut state corruption investigation of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez and the city's government.
LA mom pleads not guilty to killing 2 daughters by slashing their throatsSeptember 17th, 2009 LA woman pleads not guilty to killing 2 daughtersLOS ANGELES — A woman has pleaded not guilty to killing her two daughters by slashing their throats in their Los Angeles house. Antonia Gomez entered her plea Thursday to two counts of murder and is eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
Hartford mayor pleads not guilty to corruption charges; prosecutors want to combine 2 casesSeptember 11th, 2009 Hartford mayor pleads not guilty to extortionHARTFORD, Conn. — Hartford, Conn., Mayor Eddie Perez has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he tried to extort $250,000 from a real estate developer.
NY woman pleads guilty to participating in $2.1M identity theft ring involving Bernanke's wifeSeptember 3rd, 2009 4th person pleads guilty in national ID theft ringALEXANDRIA, Va. — A fourth person has pleaded guilty in a $2.1 million identity theft ring in which Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's wife was a victim.
'Pulp Fiction' screenwriter pleads guilty to DUI, manslaughter for deadly 2008 car crashAugust 21st, 2009 'Pulp Fiction' writer pleads guilty in fatal crashVENTURA, Calif. — An Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Pulp Fiction" has pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving for a crash that killed a passenger in his Mercedes.
NJ blogger pleads not guilty to charges of threatening 3 federal judges in ChicagoJuly 28th, 2009 NJ blogger pleads not guilty to threatening judgesCHICAGO — A blogger from New Jersey has pleaded not guilty to charges that accuse him of threatening the lives of three Chicago-based federal appeals judges. Former Internet talk show host Hal Turner appeared briefly before U.S.
Massachusetts man pleads guilty to lesser charges in slaying of Conn. millionaire developerJuly 10th, 2009 Plea deal in Conn. millionaire slaying caseSTAMFORD, Conn.
Former Mass. teacher found with 15-year-old student in West Virginia pleads not guilty to rapeJuly 1st, 2009 Mass. teacher found with student pleads not guiltySPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A former Massachusetts schoolteacher who was found with a student at a West Virginia motel has pleaded not guilty to rape.
Chicago teen pleads guilty in 2007 shooting that killed boy on city busJune 15th, 2009 Teen pleads guilty in killing on Chicago busCHICAGO — A Chicago teen has pleaded guilty in the killing of a boy who was shot while he tried to shield a classmate aboard a city bus. The Cook County state's attorney's office said 17-year-old Kevin Jones pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit murder in the 2007 death of Blair Holt.
Prosecutors: Tenn. financier who embezzled $11M pleads guilty in first bank bailout fraud caseApril 30th, 2009 Tenn. financier pleads guilty in bank fraud caseNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Prosecutors say a Tennessee financial adviser has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the first fraud case related to the federal bank bailout program.
Alderman objects to crime-themed hot dog stand with 'Home of the misdemeanor wiener' sloganApril 27th, 2009 Alderman objects to crime-themed hot dog standCHICAGO — A Chicago alderman said he doesn't mind that a businessman plans to open a hot dog stand in his ward and hire former convicts to work there, but he does object to the stand's crime-linked theme. Alderman Bob Fioretti said Friday his Second Ward on the city's West Side has major crime problems, so he thinks the stand's name, Felony Franks, is simply not in good taste.
Blagojevich's former chief of staff pleads not guilty to wire fraud in corruption caseApril 24th, 2009 Blagojevich's ex-chief of staff pleads not guiltyCHICAGO — A former chief of staff who served under ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty Thursday in the federal corruption case involving the former Illinois governor.
Loading ...