Chicago Tribune: Former county official and McCook Mayor Jeffrey Tobolski pleads guilty to extortion charges, cooperates with investigation
Former Cook County commissioner and McCook Mayor Jeffrey Tobolski pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to conspiring with a local police official to extort a restaurant owner who needed permission to host events serving alcohol.
During the hearing before U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, prosecutors announced that Tobolski is cooperating with the investigation and his assistance is ongoing. Tobolski is in line for a significant break on his sentence if he cooperates fully, prosecutors said.
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Chicago Tribune: Defense alleges entrapment as 2 friends go on trial in Chicago on charges of aiding ISIS in Syria in 2017
In his opening statement, Jones’ lawyer, James Vanzant, urged the jury not to get distracted by the violent images. What mattered, he said, was that Jones and Schimenti were induced by the government into committing a crime.
“We’re not here to decide whether ISIS does terrible things. They do,” Vanzant said.
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Chicago Sun-Times: Woman who bilked owner of Blackbird, other restaurants gets 28 months
“She got in over her head and she made a very, very bad decision,” defense attorney James Vanzant told the judge Tuesday. “And she’s paying for it today.”
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