Old school corruption
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
The former police chief of west suburban McCook [Mario DePasquale] pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring with the tiny town’s then-mayor to extort two businessmen out of tens of thousands of dollars. […]
DePasquale who became McCook’s police chief in 2013, admitted in his 20-page plea agreement with prosecutors that in 2016 he conspired with Tobolski to shake down a business owner who ran a restaurant at a McCook-owned facility and needed the mayor’s approval to host events with liquor.
The charges stated DePasquale demanded the restaurant owner — identified only as Individual A — pay $1,500 in bribes for each “themed event” that he wanted to host. DePasquale later picked up the money in person, and he and [then-McCook Mayor Jeffrey Tobolski] split the cash, according to the plea. […]
DePasquale also admitted to a second extortion scheme involving another new business owner in town, identified as Individual B. According to the plea, beginning in 2015, DePasquale and Tobolski demanded $1,000 monthly payments from Individual B, who agreed to pay out of fear of losing the business.
When Individual B asked what would happen if the payments were not made, DePasquale said words to the effect that “it would not be good” for the company according to the plea.
Straight-up mobsters.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:20 pm:
===in 2016 he conspired with Tobolski to shake down a business owner===
Nothing quite like binge watching Boardwalk Empire and thinking to yourself “Hey, that seems like a great way to make some money.”
I hope they spend a long, long, long time in prison.
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:21 pm:
I want you to look at these municipal salaries and understand that this is for a village of less than 250 people. And they couldn’t stop themselves from enrichment on top of what they were pulling in legally.
https://salary.illinoisanswers.org/search/?entity_type=person&employer=mccook-93a885ab&year=2020
- The Truth - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:23 pm:
McCook is probably the strangest suburb in all of Chicagoland. It’s weird that it even exists!
- Cool Papa Bell - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:24 pm:
=Nothing quite like binge watching Boardwalk Empire =
Right? It seems plenty of corruption right now plays out like bad mafia movies that people took seriously.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:34 pm:
Wait, there is corruption in McCook?
- Roman - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
If I’m not mistaken, this is another case that grew out of the red light camera caper. For those of us not keeping score at home, I’m wondering how many Omar Maani has taken down. He’s gotta be getting close to setting a record.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
Not a new concept in the area. You should look up nearby Willow Springs and their former police chief Michael Corbitt. Yowza. Her did time in the federal pokey for some nasty stuff. Also turned into a jailhouse informant on Jeff Fort.
- The Truth - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
McCook is the single weirdest suburb in Chicagoland. It really just shouldn’t…be.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:42 pm:
I see things have drastically changed in McCook these days.
The current mayor has hired his brother as the police chief.
I’m sure that’ll turn out fine.
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:45 pm:
Dipping one’s beak…some officials never learn and spend considerable time in the Greybar Hotel.
What a bunch of mopes.
- The Professor - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 12:49 pm:
This type of activity has been present since the State’s founding in 1818 - it’s called “self-rule” democracy. Punishment is the only recourse.
- Lake Villa Township Dem PC - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 1:50 pm:
I pray that one day our politics will be ridded of organized crime
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 3:07 pm:
This little town will never stop being mob run…the roots go so very deep.
- Barbie - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 4:28 pm:
So Toboloski pled guilty a while ago and had yet to be sentenced. I wonder if they were waiting for DePasquale to take a plea or if the feds have other indictments in the works?
- Barbie - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 4:30 pm:
Interesting tidbit about McCook is that you can purchase “Indiana Fireworks” there. They can also be purchased in Willow Springs so if that is your kink you need not head to the Indiana border.
- Dotnonymous x - Wednesday, Sep 13, 23 @ 5:31 pm:
Crooks at the top embolden other crooks, up and down the line…apparently.
Prisons were made for these types…instead of pot criminals.