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* Oy…
My goodness, @jkimpictures w/a simply superb photo of Patrick “Street Juice” Doherty, political operative and red light camera company consultant, leaving Chicago federal court after being sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for corruption. UPDATE:https://t.co/lM1Vv2Xswk pic.twitter.com/LfPTUtflVm
— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) March 2, 2023
* From the story…
Longtime Chicago-area political operative Patrick Doherty didn’t mince words a few years ago when an associate brought up the prospect of doing business in the notoriously corrupt suburb of McCook.
“It’s all contingent on what you can give,” Doherty told the associate, Omar Maani, about the obligatory campaign donations to Doherty’s boss, then-McCook Mayor Jeffrey Tobolski, according to court records.
Maani, who was secretly recording the September 2019 conversation for the FBI, said, “It’s like you’re paying a little tax.”
“Right. Juice,” Doherty replied, according to court records. “Street juice….I hope we can get it before (Tobolski) goes to jail. I hope we can retire.”
Sheesh, these people.
* Sun-Times…
Tobolski last year pleaded guilty to charges and agreed to cooperate with investigators, and is awaiting sentencing.
Across a half-dozen schemes between 2015 until his indictment in 2020, Doherty paid or coordinated a total of at least $148,000 in bribes. Payouts included $2,000 monthly payments routed to state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who sat on the Transportation Committee, as well as making payments on Sandoval’s mortgage.
Doherty also brokered a $25,000 payout to Sandoval from a trucking business owner to arrange the purchase of a parcel of state-owned land in McCook. Doherty also tried to arrange a no-show job for the son of a trustee in another village where he was seeking a camera deal, and paid dozens of people to do campaign work for suburban officials in exchange for village business.
In an emailed statement, a SafeSpeed spokesman said the bribes were paid out without the company’s knowledge, blaming them on a rogue shareholder.
* Fox32…
“I feel sorry for what I’ve put my family through, what I’ve put the system through,” [Doherty] said. “We will lose our home, we will lose everything we had. I hope you’ll consider my family and what I’ve done to my family and my friends.”
Handing down his sentence, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman noted that Doherty’s schemes spanned years, and that often he was the one driving the outreach to public officials.
“This was not just a way of doing business, this was a way of life,” Guzman said.
“The defendant’s conduct in this case was not out of character, it was not a mistake, a bad judgment, a spontaneous event.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:43 am
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Contrast the facts in this case to the facts in the Madigan case. As we saw from the motions filed by Madigan’s attorneys, the case built by the feds is much more dependent on interpretation and assumptions. In Doherty’s case, there were clear bribes being solicited and given.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 9:54 am
“We will lose our home, we will lose everything we had…”
Maybe, just maybe his family is more concerned about losing him for more than five years. Materialism sure has a way of twisting priorities.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:02 am
The judge hit it on the head, it was a “way of life’ for Doherty. The political people in the SW suburbs know him well and would probably agree with his honors statement.
Comment by regular democrat Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:12 am
Mr. Doherty kinda reminds me of Carl Fredricksen, the main character in Pixar’s Up.
https://pixar.fandom.com/wiki/Carl_Fredricksen
Comment by George Ryan Reynolds Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:15 am
“between 2015 until his indictment in 2020, Doherty paid or coordinated a total of at least $148,000 in bribes”
Only 30k per year.
Pathetic.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:25 am
Street Juice would be a great nickname in prison.
Comment by Baloneymous Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:27 am
More proof that having so many units of local government make it possible for such people to hide in plain sight.
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:28 am
Patrick Doherty is another example of a political hack infected by the “where’s mine” virus which is rampant in some Illinois circles.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:29 am
The portion control and moderate exercise program federal cons usually adopt will do that man a lot of good.
Comment by Dr. Love Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:31 am
“Longtime Chicago-area political operative Patrick Doherty”
Left out keywords Longtime Chicago-area “Democratic Party” political operative.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:38 am
He should be sentenced for wearing those shoes with a suit.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:39 am
From day one I’ve always thought red light cameras were inseparable from corruption. Whether you think they are a good idea (I don’t) or not, the process has been marred by corruption time and time again. This is just the latest example.
Comment by Terry Salad Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:48 am
=== Left out keywords Longtime Chicago-area “Democratic Party” political operative. ===
Stop being a hack. Republicans are not immune to corruption.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 11:00 am
What’s up with T-Bo? Are more indictments being prepared? Why hold off on sentencing? It seems doubtful he holds any cards that can be played in the Madigan trial.
Comment by Rudy Tooty Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 11:01 am
==Stop being a hack. Republicans are not immune to corruption.==
Stop whataboutism. That’s not what Donnie said, implied, nor was his point. Words matter. Cope.
Comment by Concerned Citizen Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:05 pm
===That’s not what Donnie said, implied, nor was his point.===
His point was to make it about “Democratic”, as you say words matter, and there was no partisan “Democratic”, except for the drooling want of - Donnie Elgin -
“Cope”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:14 pm
Speed cameras are just a new way to entrap people in the legal system. Both parties apply the knife to people who cannot afford to fight back. Fines, such as these, result in lost jobs, indebtedness, ridiculous incarcerations, seized vehicles, and family breakups. Credit to legislators with the CAREs act, but that’s a treatment while the disease remains. Guys like this enable this grift. Good riddance
Comment by Stormsw7706 Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:19 pm
It is a bit silly to split hairs over Doherty being a Dem. His hand was out regardless of your political party and he, T- Bo, and most of the other mayor “dem” cronies, are closeted conservatives.
Comment by Rudy Tooty Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:23 pm
Oops. Meant the SAFE-T act.
Comment by Stormsw7706 Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:23 pm
===His hand was out regardless of your political party===
Yep.
The brazenness of these folks in this whole investigation and these trials is mind blowing.
I dunno which is more embarrassing … any cosplay to the mob with all the “secret”… or the overt criminality seen and spoken openly like ordering a sandwich.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 12:32 pm
So at what point will Nikki Zollar be charged? Obviously she knew da boyz and the system.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 1:17 pm
==Longtime Chicago-area Democratic Party political operative.==
Yes, it was left out but I’ll agree it belongs. Doherty was a longtime Democratic operative. Agreed.
Where does that get you?
Comment by low level Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 1:34 pm
I support red light cameras, but not the corruption connected to them. Without them, driving, walking and cycling become more dangerous. The police are too busy/don’t care about traffic regulation so it can easily become chaos on the streets.
That being said I have no objection to ticket rebates (basically if you are poorer you get a refund on part of your ticket), payment plans, work in exchange for payment, etc. In order to address the problem of people not being able to pay. And certainly no one who has not caused an injury or death should serve time in prison just for violating the traffic laws.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 3:00 pm
Five years and sporting a department store tie being dug out of the back of a parent’s drawer for their First Communion.
= “It’s all contingent on what you can give” =
= I hope we can retire. =
Bye bye.
Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Mar 2, 23 @ 10:36 pm