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* 2:02 pm - The federal jury in Al Sanchez’s corruption trial has reached a verdict. Expect an announcement soon.
* 2:07 pm - The Sun-Times is Tweeting the verdict…
Verdict in Sanchez case…lawyers, etc. are assembling.
11 minutes ago from web
* 2:23 pm - Guilty on four of seven counts…
Former Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez guilty on 4 of 7 counts
More…
Al Sanchez, the former commissioner of the city’s Streets and Sanitation Department in the Daley administration, was convicted this afternoon on charges he rigged city hiring by trading jobs for campaign work.
Sanchez, 61, is the highest-ranking aide to Mayor Richard Daley to be found guilty in the federal corruption probe of City Hall hiring. A federal jury convicted Sanchez on four counts of mail fraud and acquitted him on three other mail fraud counts.
The jury also convicted Aaron Delvalle, Sanchez’s former assistant, on a perjury charge for lying to a grand jury about the rigged hiring.
***Update 1x*** [Posted by Mike Murray]
* Sanchez’s reaction to the verdict(s) as reported in the Sun Times…
“Today is not a fair day,” Sanchez told reporters.
“I did my job as I was supposed to do. I don’t think I should be in this position.”
* The Trib elaborates on Sanchez’s comments
“I just did my job the way I was supposed to do it,” Sanchez said as he left the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after jurors convicted him on four counts of mail fraud and acquitted him on three other mail fraud counts.
Sanchez insisted he was trying to ensure that the city’s work force was representative of its diverse population. “I guess it’s a federal crime.
“I just don’t even think I should be in this position,” Sanchez added. “We all had a job to do, and we did it.”
* Thomas Breen, Sanchez’s attorney, also did some gripping to the media and continued to to point the figure at City Hall and Mayor Daley. From the Sun Times…
His defense lawyer had argued Sanchez was just the “poor jerk” indicted for a corrupt hiring scheme that was controlled by the mayor’s Intergovernmental Affairs Office.
“We are a little mystified at the verdict,” lawyer Thomas Breen said today. “It’s not a happy day for Al Sanchez … He’s a decent, decent human being.”
“He has to wear the jacket for it,” Breen said. “There was no crime committed here.”
* More of the same from the Trib…
Breen said it was “hypocrisy” for city officials higher-ranking than Sanchez to skate by. “No one has had the guts to come forward and take responsibility for it (the hiring system),” he said.
“I don’t understand why Al Sanchez has been singled out,” Breen told reporters.
* One of the jurors dismisses Sanchez’s claim that he should not be punished for doing what is business as usual in Chicago politics. She also explains that the jury was split over the verdict and finally settled upon guilty convictions for only those charges that were supported by a testifying witness…
One juror, Arlene Kaminski of the western suburbs, said the jury was split when deliberations began, though a majority favored conviction. The jury then went count by count, flipping through their notes to recount testimony, she said.
The jury ended up convicting Sanchez on counts where there were witnesses who were able to testify with specifics.
Kaminski said she was aware of hiring issues in the city as a whole. “It’s been going on from way back. It doesn’t make it right,” she said.
Asked about Breen’s argument that city higher-ups should also face scrutiny, Kaminski said, “The buck has got to stop somewhere.”
She said she hoped the verdict would send a message to City Hall.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:03 pm
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Tomczak, Sorich, Sanchez. Who has been the ultimate beneficiary? What does it take to put Daley in a RICO case? More importantly, what will it take for the Chicago media to declare the emperor has no clothes?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:34 pm
del valle is guilty on one count of perjury. heard it on the radio.
Comment by Amy Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:38 pm
Wonder when Da Mayor’s “friends” will put on a Legal/You Keepa Quiet-Fundraiser for Sanchez like they did for Sorich after he was found guilty?
Comment by Oken Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:43 pm
Hopefully this is just another step up the ladder towards Daley. The city is corrupt his nephew in dirty cityworker pension deals, the hiring monitor report saying the city still favors political hires. A regime change is needed and thanks to the Dem. machine the US attorney is the only one that can bring it about.
Comment by fed up Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:43 pm
When will the city’s legal department start to wake up? Is everyone there so scared of telling the mayor what can and cannot be done? The city has not been well-served by Corp Counsel.
Comment by Tessa Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:44 pm
–When will the city’s legal department start to wake up? Is everyone there so scared of telling the mayor what can and cannot be done? The city has not been well-served by Corp Counsel.–
That’s very funny. Are you of the opinion that don’t know what they’ve been doing? Rigged hiring is a major pillar of the entire enterprise.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:47 pm
Can anyone tell me what the sentencing guidelines are for mail fraud, four counts?
Comment by chicountryguy Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:49 pm
Rich - looking forward to your in-depth analysis on this one. I am not sure how much to make of this conviction and MSM offers nothing of use. I don’t count Kass as useful.
Hope you feel better, but if you have the same bug that has been around - you can expect the fever and a cough (coming in 2-3 days) to linger for a while. . .
Comment by carbon deforestation Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 2:53 pm
Is Sanchez a baritone?
cant wait to hear him sing.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:02 pm
Amy, watch the spelling, punctuation…Delvalle, one word, not DelValle, as in City Treasurer Miguel…
Comment by Anonymous45 Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:06 pm
Certain State Latino State Legislators dodged a bullet here. They are this/close to HDO/Victor Reyes.
Comment by HV in HP Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:06 pm
Kass has been screaming about this stuff for years. Perhaps everyone ought to take him a little more seriously? The rest of the MSM fawns on Mayor Daley and the political establishment in Chicago. I give Kass credit, he has been relentless as a critic in the face of such overwhelming fawning.
“The City That Works.” “Future Home of the Olympics.” Does anyone really pay attention other than support this type of relentless boosterism?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:15 pm
Lawyer breen makes it sound like sanchez was helping the common “Jose”..Sanchez had conditions to getting ajob. U must work against anyone that Vistor reyes convinced the mayor was bad for him. Sanchez isn’t”Che” he was out forhimself control, and his bankaccount. Sell out is the name in the barrio
Comment by some people call me "Maurice" Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:27 pm
Tessa,
How do you think all the Assistant Corp. Counsel’s get their job? Merit?
Comment by ThreeSheets Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:30 pm
Wordslinger is right.
When is the media going to tell it like it is with Daley? All these other schmucks are going to jail for carrying out HIS hiring system.
Comment by Upstate Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:46 pm
hey i hear the whats left of hdo is operating in cicero with “big doms” blessing just look at his ad during the mayors race. contracts…
Comment by some people call me "Maurice" Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:50 pm
To ThreeSheets - actually there used to be a stringent process for lawyer hires at the City in the ’90’s of which I have firsthand knowledge. And there were and are some very qualified and hard-working people in that office too. So don’t paint with too broad a brush and trash ‘em all. But it sure seems like the law dept has adopted a “see no evil” approach in recent years.
Comment by Tessa Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:53 pm
I don’t follow Chicago corruption as closely as I have followed the ex-governor’s escapades, but it seems like the feds are climbing the ladder systematically. What are the chances that some of those convicted thus far can give up evidence on the mayor?
Comment by Stooges Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 3:55 pm
I know you tinfoil-hat-wearing suburbanites think that the Mayor is at the center of all city hiring, but do you really think he cared (or cares) who the entry-level laborers were who hired to work at Streets and San? There are 40,000+ city employees.
Would anyone (anyone sane, that is) think that the CEO of the 40,000 employee parent of 7-11 has anything to do with hiring the counter-help?
Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 4:06 pm
I wonder who his most frequent visitors will be once inside.
Comment by some people call me "Maurice" Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 4:09 pm
Anon: If the CEO of 7-11 had to get elected every four years you had better believe that he would have an interest in the counter-help (i.e. precinct capitans)…are you kidding?
Comment by Sam Adams Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 4:26 pm
Anon:
In response to your statement, does the Mayor care about entry-level city employees? I would say he doesn’t care specifically who gets hired, but he does care, and know, that the job is going to a loyal foot soldier.
Now get back to your City job.
Comment by Tollway Joe Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 4:35 pm
Sanchez is part of the problem and deserves jail time. “I was just following orders” didn’t work in Nuremberg, and shouldn’t work in Chicago. If enough people defy illegal orders, the system will repair itself.
Comment by phocion Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 4:39 pm
–I know you tinfoil-hat-wearing suburbanites think that the Mayor is at the center of all city hiring, but do you really think he cared (or cares) who the entry-level laborers were who hired to work at Streets and San? There are 40,000+ city employees.–
You’re even funnier than Tessa. The streets and san driver making sixty grand plus who piled her partner into the wall with her garbage truck filled out an application at an HDO party at a bar.
Fast Eddie Burke’s old man, Alderman Joe, famously came out of a meeting with Richard J. once and said “how can he run the city when he’s got all that —- of how many boiler inspectors he gave you in his head?”
The mayor isn’t interested in who gets city jobs? Streets and San and the Water Department have been a gold mine for Outfit types and political hacks for years. Quarters Boyle ripped off the tollway for millions and got a job there. You slay me, dude.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 4:58 pm
As a former southsider who watched this stuff happen “the old way” for 20 years with my friends’ parents and “the new way” with my actual friends in the last 20 years, there are 2 things I can’t believe:
1) that enough non-connected people in Chicago still vote for Daley for him to win, and
2) that there are people like Tessa and Anon who think that Daley has little or nothing to do with all of this.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 5:09 pm
Buffers, Lefty = ya gotta have dem buffers.
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 5:12 pm
As Secretary/Treasurer of the Illinois Committee for Honest Government, I am pleased to see justice done today. The ICHG has been among the leaders in speaking out against these illegal abuses for years. The years of HDO and the Daley Machine scoffing at us are now over. It is time for the Justice Department to take action against Mayor Daley and the city under the RICO statutes, even if that dooms Chicago’s Olympic bid. The taxpayers of Chicago deserve immediate action!
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government, Chicago
Comment by Randall Sherman Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 5:13 pm
First off, welcome back Tessa! Where have you been? I for one always welcome your comments, and I think some other posters here today are misinterpteting Tessa’s comment.
Second, I was sick worrying all weekend that Al Sanchez would walk, so I’m grateful they got a conviction.
Finally, I’m in sunny southern California and can’t read the full news stories. Has anyone reported on what kind of sentence the former HDO boss is looking at?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 5:24 pm
“…Has anyone reported on what kind of sentence the former HDO boss is looking at? …”
Probably Probation and Community Service as a volunteer for Acorn!
Comment by A Citizen Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 5:39 pm
I think the original Tessa was a DCFS employee somewhere west of I-39 and not a Chicagoan. Unless she comes on here and confirms she is one and the same.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 6:07 pm
I thought Tessa worked for DHS???
Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 6:20 pm
You may be correct. It was one of those agencies, or a contract employee.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 6:21 pm
What difference would that make Six?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 6:22 pm
None, really. But the Tessa who used to be a regular around here was a valued contributor, at least in my eyes. Just wondering if today’s Tessa is one and the same, or a different person. Haven’t seen the handle for awhile.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 9:18 pm
== do you really think (Daley) cared (or cares) who the entry-level laborers were who hired to work at Streets and San? There are 40,000+ city employees. ==
Anon: I am going to have to channel a wordslinger quote from last weeks posts. To believe that Daley doesnt know what is going on is akin to believing that the piano player at a Brothel doesnt know what is going on upstairs.
Jim Laski recounts in his book that Daley is a meticulous individual in every way.
You don’t become the mayor of the third largest city in the Nation and not pay attention to all the details, including hiring at Streets and Sanitation.
The willingness to make excuses for people who ultimately hold the responsibility in government when thier subordinates go to prison is to ignore the smoke billowing from what obviously must be a fire blazing out of control.
Comment by Speaking At Will Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 9:43 pm
The fat cat has gotten away again, give him up Sanchez … you was used.
Comment by MeAgain Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 10:52 pm
Daley has had the talent to make the people of Chicago think that only a Daley can keep the city together, growing, and going forward. Wake-up Chicagoans, its time to tell Daley it’s not his city it’s ours.
Comment by Eyes Wide Open Monday, Mar 23, 09 @ 10:56 pm
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Pray for more, to rid us of this corruption.
Comment by Bubs Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 2:08 am