You may remember a blog post last summer in which I recounted the struggles of attorney Mike Roman, who was banned from Judge Vincent Gaughan's criminal courtroom during R. Kelly's child porn trial for trying to hand off a C.D. from his "Carlos Santana Band" to the R and B superstar himself.
Well, the Cha Cha king of the 10th ward and I ran into each other in a courtroom again today, this time a federal one.
Roman was there in support of his "good friend" and all-around "great guy" "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak- up for sentencing Thursday on corruption charges.
Listen to Roman for a few, and you might mistake the infamous former alderman for Saint Edward of the Southeast Side.
While Roman's father would have preferred he become a doctor, Saint Edward acted as young Mike's academic mentor, "encouraging and guiding" him in his studies of the law.
Saint Edward even gave his "Carlos Santana Band" its biggest gig as of yet- a fundraiser at the GlenEagles Country Club in September of '69.
Roman then went on to clerk in Saint Edward's law office, before going on to establish his own Southeast Side immigration-oriented practice.
"We go back a long way," Roman recounted, telling me he wouldn't have missed this chance to see his old friend back in town, be it in less-than-savory circumstances, or most would presume.
But Saint Edward can do no wrong, if you ask Roman, calling him a "shrewd negotiator" who apparently has a good ear.
Vrdolyak already has his copy of that once R. Kelly-bound C.D.
"Do you believe he acted criminally, Mike?" I questioned of his old friend.
"All he did was use the U.S. Mail," Roman responded, noting the federal fraud statute that criminalizes the defrauding of honest services using any such regulated by the government.
"That's it, Mike?"
"Judge Milton Shadur is giving the U.S. Government an interesting and sobering lesson on how the real world works," he said of the surprising sentence to a five-year probation.
He then pushed one of his C.D.'s on me.
Why- I don't know. I certainly don't have the reach of R Kelly or the pull of his friend "Fast Eddie."
I don't take handouts, kickbacks, or in Saint Edward's situation, "finders fees," but that "real world" he spoke of is going to give the little guy a break.
This one's for Mike:
Comments (4)
It might interest you to know that St. Edward V is now performing miracles when his sainthood is invoked, especially in criminal court as it happened recently when a state judge who had insisted on giving my client 30 days in Cook County jail and two years felony probation instead of 300 hours of community service which I had originally requested, but the experienced jurist felt my client couldn't successfully complete, "saw the light" and had a change of heart after I pointed out that a federal judge had sentenced former Alderman and Cook Couty Chairman Edward Vrdolyak to five years probation and 2,500 hours of community service. "If a 71 year old man can do 500 hours of coummunity service in one year, why can't a 30 year old perform 150". Needeless to say, many more converts are calling "Saint Fast Eddie" to the rescue. Go Fast Eddie!
Attorney Mike Roman, Chicago, Il.
Posted by Michael Roman | May 26, 2009 6:21 PM
Posted on May 26, 2009 18:21
I remember Fast Eddie running an efficient 10th Ward and a swinging dance hall called The Club on Commercial Ave where The Tellstars, featuring Mike Roman on lead guitar, always rocked the packed joint.
I was sad when Fast Eddie converted The Club into his law offices as there were no other places as nice in South Chicago that had top notch entertainment like Fast Eddie's Club.
I later heard that Fast Eddie made the stage into his personal office and that he rented office space to Attorney Mike Roman just in case Fast Eddie got stage freight and needed Roman to be his M.C.
I was glad to Fast Eddie walk even if he can't dance rock n' roll like he used to.
Posted by Naomi Beachwalker | March 1, 2009 7:17 PM
Posted on March 1, 2009 19:17
Sometimes it appears that the "on-going saga" of Eddie V is a story which could be titled "Revenge of the System". I've being following the "saga" for well over 35 (maybe 40) years and the system does not like to lose once they accuse. Therefore, I suspect that EV knows this better than anyone and must live in a glass house. For those who are trying to make a name for themselves within the system, EV is the Brass Ring to grab for. Maybe they should stop calling him "Fast Eddie" and start calling themselves "Half-Fast Enough"! This guy Roman seems to be a legitimate friend of EV; but if he's not careful, the system might investigate his Cha Cha Time CD for secret coded messages from EV ...when you play it backwords. Maybe Santana has been in the middle of these favorable conclusions. Either way, I think my next stop is going to be Best Buy.
Posted by JB | March 1, 2009 11:37 AM
Posted on March 1, 2009 11:37
Ed Vrdolyak was Mike Roman's legal mentor, in the legal profession. Carlos Santana has been Mike Roman's musical role model, and both Fast Eddie and Carlos like Mike Roman and The Tellstars' "Cha Cha Time" cd, which features Carlos Santana's original percussion section and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members, Chepito Areas and Michael Shrieve.
Mike Roman and The Tellstars have been one of the most popular and enduring groups in the Chicagoland area. The band’s multi - cultural appeal has contributed to their success and has made the group’s longevity possible. Their unique approach and interpretation of Latin rock music has been the band’s trademark along with their original compositions and versatile arrangements featured in the group’s recordings and live performances.
The group’s musical ability to duplicate and interpret the sound of Santana began even before Mike Roman jammed with super rock star Carlos Santana and his original band in the San Francisco Bay area.
Mike Roman and The Tellstars is the one and only Latin rock group in the Midwest, which has the honor to have performed on stage, and also recorded, with Santana band members. They are also the only group in the Midwest from which Carlos Santana has sampled a chant arrangement to perform in concert.
Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Cha Cha Time !
The cd is available at Best Buy stores and Itunes.
Posted by Birdman | February 26, 2009 11:08 PM
Posted on February 26, 2009 23:08