8/6/2008

Former Alderman Arenda Troutman pleads guilty to mail fraud & income tax evasion

From the Chicago Tribune:

Troutman stood before U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo in a long, colorful summer dress, nodding and quietly answering "yes" when the judge asked whether she had accepted illegal cash payments. In the tax fraud charge, Troutman reported her income as $77,801 for the year 2005. Prosecutors allege that she did not report at least $10,000 that she had received in the scheme.

Prosecutors recounted the evidence in the case for the judge, including conversations with the alderman that an undercover informant recorded. In one, Troutman promised to smooth the way for a development, but then brazenly asked: "What do I get out of it?"

Assistant U.S. Atty. Joseph Alesia told the judge that question was often answered with campaign donations or cash gifts to a women's auxiliary organization linked to Troutman.

You can read the entire plea agreement by clicking here.

You also might remember Ald. Troutman from this episode of allowing top Black Disciple and former federal fugitive Donnell Jehan to ... ahem ... pimp her ride:

During their investigation, federal agents spotted Jehan driving Troutman's luxury SUV before he was charged in 2004. She said she thought he was a businessman, and denied having a personal relationship with him.

When federal agents raided her South Side home, however, photos of Troutman and Jehan were recovered, according to source familiar with the investigation.

Despite this gross betrayal of the public trust - or as it's called in here Chicago, being an elected official - we can thank former Ald. Troutman for this rhetorical gem:

"Most aldermen, most politicians are hos," she said on one recording.

Perhaps once she's out of the slammer, she can team up with Ludacris.

Fo shizzle...

They also might want to consider christening a "Chicago Aldermanic Wing" of the closest federal prison:

Troutman is the first Chicago alderman to be convicted on corruption charges since Percy Giles (37th) in 1999. Between 1972 and 1999, an average of one alderman a year was convicted of wrongdoing.

Ahhh, Chicago...

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Filed Under: Chicago Politics

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