Posted on 09/06/2016 8:34:20 PM PDT by Navy Patriot
A former Chicago transportation official was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for taking bribes to steer $100 million in red-light camera contracts to a company in Phoenix.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall sentenced John Bills, 55, in Chicago moments after he apologized for his actions. Federal prosecutors had asked the judge for at least a 10-year prison sentence.
The former second-in-command at Chicago's Department of Transportation was convicted in January of bribery, conspiracy and extortion.
Bills was accused of accepting envelopes stuffed with cash, along with gifts — including condos in two states and a Mercedes — to help Redflex Traffic Systems obtain contracts in a decade-long scheme. Prosecutors said the cash and gifts were worth a total of up to $2 million.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That sounds like a lot of sales incentives, alright.
But again, this is how they do it in Chicago. Whaddya mean, honest? That isn’t a word in the dictionary in Chicago.
10 years with parole possibilities is not enough.
Don’t drop the soap.
True... it’s probable he will get paroled on the QT before long.
Every crook who got a red light camera ticket will have a shiv for him, huh.
What a shame.
What I’m curious about is what is ever going to happen to that company. They bribed him, it was crooked on both sides, no?
Years I ago I investigated a red light corruption case similar to this one and found that the camera manufacturer and program was stuffing the pockets of city council members who made the decisions on whether the red light cameras were installed in their city or not. A direct conflict of interest. The did the same all across the country using PACs to donate to senators. After that method was identified they moved to having individual / employees donate to their campaigns. It’s a very shifty business and should be outlawed iMO. It invites too much vice and corruption.
Bills is the payee of the bribes. I hope the payors get the book too.
Well, they sure have to make sure that the municipality isn’t going to get all fickle about these cameras, like in the face of an organized outcry.
No donations to Bill and Hill Crime Family Foundation? Ya needs insurance!
The red light cameras are marketed to the municipalities primarily as an easy revenue generator. They get to take 40 % of the take; the municipality keeps the rest sans administrative costs. If the camera's don't generate a certain amounts month the city has to pay a very hefty penalty. It's really a scam and needs to be shut down, particularly with all the accidents caused by people trying to speed through the intersections with a yellow light that end up hitting the vehicle directly in front of them if they come to a stop which occurs pretty frequently.
Like the way the WOD is usually run... it’s not a crime stopper, it’s a tax!
There was an article about a camera in DC years ago. The yellow last 0.5 secs. “High Revenue” was term I believe was used. $500K/year, iirc.
I’ve heard stories about yellows shaved to less than state DOT prescribed minimums, for the sake of these cameras.
I saw my first red-light camera this weekend (Sonoma, CA?). Waze warned me about it before I got there.
If it had been Hilary, people would be saying no big deal .
War on Drugs => Blue collar crime
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