tomwaits
18th February 2009, 12:22 PM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-troutman-sentencingfeb18,0,7955576.story
Former Chicago alderman sentenced to 4 years in prison
Arenda Troutman joins 'Hall of Shame of politicians,' judge says
Frustrated by Illinois' long history of public corruption, a federal judge lectured former Ald. Arenda Troutman on Tuesday, telling the longtime politician that she could have been something special.
"Instead you join the Hall of Shame of politicians who sold their offices," U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo said shortly before sentencing Troutman to 4 years in prison. "You become another in their number."
With her guilty plea last fall to one count each of mail fraud and tax fraud, Troutman became the 27th Chicago alderman to be convicted of wrongdoing since 1972.
...
She demanded campaign money and bribes in exchange for lending her support to developers' projects, Alesia said. Instead of helping rid the area of gang influence, she had a relationship with a gang leader and used gang soldiers to help her campaign, he said.
This woman is a real piece of work. The final blow comes here:
And most of all, Troutman said, she has been a good daughter to an ailing mother and a good mother to three young boys who won't have her by their side if she is in prison.
"This society is real cruel to young black boys who don't have instruction and guidance," she said in seeking mercy from Castillo. "They'll get swallowed up in the belly of the beast."
You mean the instruction and guidance that YOU were supposed to be giving them? Oh wait, you instead spent your time taking bribes and sleeping with gangbangers in exchange for their help in her campaign. But I guess it's all society's fault...
Former Chicago alderman sentenced to 4 years in prison
Arenda Troutman joins 'Hall of Shame of politicians,' judge says
Frustrated by Illinois' long history of public corruption, a federal judge lectured former Ald. Arenda Troutman on Tuesday, telling the longtime politician that she could have been something special.
"Instead you join the Hall of Shame of politicians who sold their offices," U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo said shortly before sentencing Troutman to 4 years in prison. "You become another in their number."
With her guilty plea last fall to one count each of mail fraud and tax fraud, Troutman became the 27th Chicago alderman to be convicted of wrongdoing since 1972.
...
She demanded campaign money and bribes in exchange for lending her support to developers' projects, Alesia said. Instead of helping rid the area of gang influence, she had a relationship with a gang leader and used gang soldiers to help her campaign, he said.
This woman is a real piece of work. The final blow comes here:
And most of all, Troutman said, she has been a good daughter to an ailing mother and a good mother to three young boys who won't have her by their side if she is in prison.
"This society is real cruel to young black boys who don't have instruction and guidance," she said in seeking mercy from Castillo. "They'll get swallowed up in the belly of the beast."
You mean the instruction and guidance that YOU were supposed to be giving them? Oh wait, you instead spent your time taking bribes and sleeping with gangbangers in exchange for their help in her campaign. But I guess it's all society's fault...