I like Ike was the popular slogan in the 1950's which denoted support for the President Dwight D. Eisenhower. But it's doubtful aldermen and others will say that about their colleague 29th ward boss Ike Carothers anymore.
The feds announced Thursday that a grand jury had indicted Carothers on charges of bribery, fraud and filing a false tax return, alleging he had profited to the tune of more than $40,000 in exchange for helping a developer get lucrative zoning changes.
Carothers could be facing several years in prison, but that's unlikely. WHY?
According to newly unsealed federal court records the indicted Carothers wore a wire, traditionally a big no-no for Chicago politicians, and has recorded both public officials and developers.
Former 17th ward alderman Allen Streeter was roundly scorned when he wore a wire during the fed's Operation Silver Shovel in the 1990s. On the other hand former Alderman Ambrosio Medrano (25th ward), also ensared in Silver Shovel, is still praised as a "Stand-Up Guy" more than a decade later for refusing to wear one.
While this won't make Carothers popular, it shows Ike is smarter than folks may have thought.
He's obviously learned the old lesson that the first one on the bus gets the best seat.
It's federal court slang for the first one to cooperate with prosecutors often gets the best deal.
Depending on who he's gotten and how valuable the information, Carothers has likely shaved years off his potential sentence.
Would you do the same in Carothers' shoes?
Weigh in here
Comments (1)
There is no doubt that Carothers belongs in jail as is evidenced in his first election which was stolen through the absentee vote; he should serve time and lots of it. He is a thug that pistol whipped Mr. Butch Campbell during one election during the same time his daddy was on trial in Federal Court (a decision made by the now Chief Judge of the 7th District Federal Court here in Chicago). Ike worked for the Cook County Sheriff's Department at the time.
The north end of the 29th Ward, being mostly Hispanic, suffers to this day because of the lack of city services that are afforded everyone else in the adjacent 36th Ward. Not only that, city services were sold during election time, in full violation of the Illinois Compiled Statutes relating to Election Law (Ch. 10) - sidewalks went up for sale during one campaign. You might like to look at his operatives on the north end - Rudy Villereal, who was exposed by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Carothers right hand man, Tommy Johnson, quickly moved up the ranks when Ike had Carol Hartwell fired from her position as 29th Ward Superintendent for Streets and Sanitation. Within approximately one year Johnson became the 3rd District, District Superintendent. Johnson was allegedly involved, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, with vending machines that were at the facility he worked out of.
This is but the tip of the iceberg. I know because I have been trying to get this guy in jail for approximately one decade.
You can find further information at my website: http:www.waynestrnad.info/strnadexchange
Have a great day and keep the news free.
Sincerely,
Wayne Strnad
Posted by Wayne Strnad | May 31, 2009 12:56 PM
Posted on May 31, 2009 12:56