Machine politics in Chicago is an uncoordinated criminal enterprise.  It works more like the traditional Chinese Triad than the Sicilian La Costa Nostra. There’s room for criminal entrepreneurs. The rollout from Chicago Alderman Isaac “Ike” Carothers plea deal, covered in Big Journalism here, is a case study in how the Machine oils its gears.

Ike wore a mic for the Feds, specifically for the office of U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald.  The first rollup of Ike’s crooked connections began February 2.

A 51-year-old businessman from Naperville was formally charged Tuesday with offering bribes to Chicago Ald. Ike Carothers. Carothers, who pleaded guilty to fraud charges Monday and promptly tendered his resignation, said in his plea deal that the businessman, Wafeek “Wally” Aiyash, paid him $40,000 in bribes in exchange for help on developments in Carothers’ 29th ward. Aiyash’s attorney would not comment.

But Aiyash was charged in what is called a criminal information, rather than an indictment, which usually means the defendant will plead guilty. In previous court documents, Aiyash was accused of offering $100,000 in cash bribes to Carothers if he would help secure concessions contracts at O’Hare and Midway airports. (more…)

Like father like son. Chicago Alderman Isaac “Ike” Carothers has pleaded guilty to corruption and faces 28 months in jail.  His father, former Alderman William Carothers, was convicted of attempted extortion in 1983.

Here’s how Chicago’s WGN TV News announced the 31^st Chicago City Council Alderman since 1973 – but, hey, who’s counting – to be convicted of crimes that include paying a bribe, taking a bribe, extortion, attempted extortion, tax fraud, tax evasion, racketeering, and ghost-payrolling schemes.

Ike was formally charged with fraud and bribery last May by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the legal beagle who has former Governor Rod Blagojevich facing trial this summer.  That is, unless Blago does enough talking to turn a plea deal. And that’s a potential factor that makes the Carothers’ case particularly interesting.

You can catch up on the details of Ike’s misdeeds in the Chicago print media here, here and here.

Let’s piece together lines from two of those articles. First, the Chicago Sun Times piece: (more…)