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* Slam dunk…
#BREAKING Businessman James T. Weiss, a son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, has been found guilty of a scheme to bribe two members of the Illinois General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/cJUDusWXhl
— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) June 15, 2023
///BREAKING/// A federal jury convicts businessman James Weiss, son-in-law of ex-Cook County Democratic boss Joe Berrios, of scheme to bribe two state legislators.
He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the most serious counts.
Details to come pic.twitter.com/hA5YrbbxkL— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) June 15, 2023
This post will likely be updated.
…Adding… Tribune…
After a weeklong trial, the jury of seven women and five men deliberated for about four hours before finding James T. Weiss, 44, guilty of bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and lying to the FBI.
Weiss is the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios. The most serious charges carry a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Weiss took a sip from a plastic cup as the first guilty verdict was read in court but showed no outward reaction.
A tentative sentencing date has been set for October 11.
So long…
Weiss and his attorneys leave the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after being found guilty on all seven counts. pic.twitter.com/7XhItJWa9T
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) June 15, 2023
…Adding… A wise juror…
"There was some pretty specious arguments," said Sutherland-Scienski, particularly attorney Ilia Usharovich's remarks about the difference between coincidence and correlation.
"I found (that) to be a pretty grade-school type argument," she says.— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) June 15, 2023
Regarding Luis Arroyo, she said, "Mr. Arroyo’s absence was very plainly felt. I have a lot of questions about him that have not yet been answered."
Asked if she would be surprised to know he was in prison, she said, "No not at all."
Or that he pleaded guilty?
"That seems wise."— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) June 15, 2023
“There were some arguments that the defense made that I personally found insulting to our intelligence and to the court at large,” a juror told reporters. "Something about the difference between coincidence and correlation, which I found to be a pretty grade school-type argument”
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) June 15, 2023
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:17 pm
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The Mickey Mouse tie was a nice show of seriousness
Comment by DuPage Dad Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:20 pm
Arroyo: “Hey Jimmy join the elite club - now, get a haircut first!” “We both won the sweepstakes deal!”
Comment by Pizza Man Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:22 pm
Talk about a no-doubter. The jury only took a couple of hours and even had a short break in the middle of deliberations because they had trouble playing the tapes.
Comment by TR Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:22 pm
The statement from Defense Attorney Usharovich on Springfield: “This is a dirty place…” may be unfair, but sticks in my mind.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:38 pm
Should have taken a plea…
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:45 pm
== The statement from Defense Attorney Usharovich on Springfield: “This is a dirty place…” may be unfair, but sticks in my mind.==
An extremely counterproductive statement from a defense attorney. Told the jurors that everyone that has anything to do with Springfield is a crook. There was only one person the jurors could hold responsible for that — his client.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:47 pm
Who was it that once said that Chicago isn’t the most corrupt city, it just happens to be the most comically corrupt?
Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 3:54 pm
We fell to the second most corrupt State (I can’t remember if Louisiana or New Jersey passed us) but surely we should be regaining # 1. Right?
Comment by Lurker Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:00 pm
Another corrupt Dem, add Weiss’s name to the growing list of folks like Terry Link, Danny Solis, Luis Arroyo, Tom Cullerton, Sandoval, and Madigan. So sad.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:10 pm
All these convictions… Just makes me think whomever decided to cooperate w the government absolutely did the right thing. A difficult choice but the right one. You dont want to be locked up in your golden years.
Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:11 pm
It probably would not have changed the outcome, but shaving certainly would not have hurt.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:16 pm
==Another corrupt Dem, add Weiss’s name==
Dont forget about George Ryan, Scott Fawell, Mike Tristano, Lee Daniels, the Cellinis, etc
Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:37 pm
There was no defense here… this quick verdict confirms what we all knew.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:41 pm
==There was no defense here… this quick verdict confirms what we all knew.==
The defense attorney’s actions last week were a pretty good indication.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:53 pm
Could have save a lot of time and money by pleading early and get it behind him. As to Republican crooks yes we have our share but he may have been close Daniels was never even charged. And as for Cellini I know he went down but my impression is he was sorta an all party crook. Didn’t matter to he party he got his. I bet he was looking into joining that fake party Stevenson had to o form to run against Jim Thompson
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:56 pm
So Be(rrios) it.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 4:56 pm
The parade of corrupt democrats marches on. Unfortunately, tone deaf Republican cult members cannot capitalize because they think that people care more about “women was” than they do about actual issues that impact their lives. Corrupt or stupid… take your pick.
Comment by McCloon Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 5:01 pm
Having tried cases in the past where I had zero chance of winning, I tend to go easy on my opinion of lawyers and their arguments at trials of this type. That being said, it is beyond me why he just didn’t plea it out. 3 or 4 years in the joint blows but its a lot better than 7 or 8.
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 5:09 pm
Low Level- when was Lee Daniel’s ever charged with a crime or convicted? People get sued for making those kinds of utterly false accusations. Surprised Rich Miller let it slip by?
Comment by Sue Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 5:14 pm
–People get sued for making those kinds of utterly false accusations.–
Politicians lose those lawsuits when they file them.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 5:37 pm
=when was Lee Daniel’s ever charged with a crime or convicted?=
Perhaps he got his Speaker’s confused and meant Dennis Hassert. But the larger point remains. Neither party has cornered the market on corruption and criminal behavior. And perhaps the GOP should slow its roll on talk of overhauling the Justice Department. They seem quite good at putting away corrupt Democrats and can be equally good with Republicans.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 6:16 pm
Is this the closest the feds will ever get to Berrios? He’s been out of office for close to 5 years. The window to get him might be closing.
Comment by DuPage County AV Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 7:18 pm
The feds win at trial about 99% of the time. What attorney would let his client go to trial?
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 8:24 pm
==== Is this the closest the feds will ever get to Berrios?====
Interesting statement. Don’t forget that Joe represents the legal video gaming guys. And they definitely didn’t want sweepstake machines legalized. I don’t think the fed were going after Weiss because of Joe. Arroyo was always an east target.
Comment by Been There Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 8:34 pm
He looks a lot like former Representative Larry Hicks
Comment by 13th Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 9:35 pm
== What attorney would let his client go to trial?==
Dan Webb did lol.
Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 10:39 pm
Regarding LAD (thats Lee A Daniels), I never said he was charged or convicted. Nonetheless, there was a lot going on there back kn the day.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-07-13-0607130218-story.html
Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 11:34 pm
==He looks a lot like former Representative Larry Hicks==
Thank you for that. I couldn’t put my finger on it but you hit on it exactly. And I guess we both have shown our age now…
Comment by low level Thursday, Jun 15, 23 @ 11:50 pm