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* Press release…
Following reports of his alleged involvement in criminal activity, SafeSpeed, LLC terminated Omar Maani’s ownership interest in and association with the company, Sunday, February 2. Omar Maani did not and will not receive any money from the company as part of this process. The company does not believe Omar Maani should profit in any way from his alleged criminal behavior.
Until the reporting of events related to the federal criminal investigation last week, SafeSpeed did not know about the payment of government funds totaling $70,000 by Mr. Maani to Senator Sandoval and had no knowledge of the government’s use of SafeSpeed to further its investigation. That conduct did not benefit SafeSpeed; in fact, the alleged criminality of Mr. Maani and Senator Sandoval has caused significant harm to SafeSpeed’s business and its reputation. Mr. Maani’s alleged criminal activity was done without the Company’s authority; his alleged criminal actions violate every trust the Company placed in him, and contradict and undercut the company’s important work with local municipalities to promote traffic safety and save lives.
While Mr. Maani held a minority ownership interest in SafeSpeed, he has not been active in the Company’s business’s management or operations for more than a year.
To be clear, Omar Maani’s alleged criminality does not reflect the values and integrity of SafeSpeed and its employees—the people who work hard at the company every day and are invested in its success and integrity.
SafeSpeed applauds the government for rooting out corruption. We stand resolute in our commitment to continue to serve Illinois municipalities with honesty, integrity, and a commitment to the law.
…Adding… Meant to post this and didn’t…
The politically connected red-light camera company at the center of former state Sen. Martin Sandoval’s brazen bribery scheme has been hit along with Sandoval and several suburban officials with a federal racketeering lawsuit.
The lawsuit targets SafeSpeed LLC as well as Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, his chief of staff Patrick Doherty, former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci, Alsip Mayor John Ryan and Summit Mayor Sergio Rodriguez.
Other defendants include Oakbrook Terrace, former Chicago Deputy Aviation Commissioner Bill Helm, former Justice police chief Robert Gedville, Worth Township Supervisor John O’Sullivan, former state Rep. Michael Carberry, Summit Police Chief John Kosmowski and Bill Mundy, head of public works in Summit.
Finally, the lawsuit names SafeSpeed co-founders Nikki Zollar and Chris Lai, as well as SafeSpeed stakeholders Omar Maani and Khalid “Cliff” Maani.
This is the same plaintiff who is suing because he didn’t get a job at PACE allegedly because of Sandoval. The suit is here.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 3:50 pm
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SafeSpeed + integrity = an example of an oxymoron.
Comment by DuPage Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 3:59 pm
Whoever is doing their PR, best of luck connecting SafeSpeed with “values” other than the bad ones like avarice.
Comment by Sonny Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:02 pm
However, SafeSpeed also has an obligation to hire well-qualified and honest staff to represent their company in an ethical and professional manner.
Comment by Billy Sunday Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:07 pm
So does this mean they will stop using elected officials as lobbyists, stop dishing large amounts of campaign cash, and do business by a flat fee rather than getting paid by the ticket? I won’t hold my breath.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:08 pm
=== To be clear, Omar Maani’s alleged criminality does not reflect the values and integrity of SafeSpeed and its employees—the people who work hard at the company every day and are invested in its success and integrity.===
Yeah, about that…
If there are emails, recordings, ledgers that seems to show more and more the systematic way the criminality was the culture of the company, it will be this release that will be the haunting last salvo of feign innocence.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:09 pm
=Omar Maani’s alleged criminality does not reflect the values and integrity of SafeSpeed and its employees=
How does it reflect on the leadership of SafeSpeed considering the fact that he was an owner? Kind of hard to use the rogue employee argument here. And if he wasn’t involved in the management or operations for more than a year how does he gain access to the $70K to make the payment?
Comment by Pundent Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:18 pm
=== And if he wasn’t involved in the management or operations for more than a year how does he gain access to the $70K to make the payment?===
The ledger and transactions/emails to them will be the tell… maybe recordings too?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:22 pm
The complaint looks like a kitchen sink approach and I’m skeptical the plaintiff has standing for a good chunk of it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:26 pm
The $70K was provided by the government according to other reports.
Comment by LTSW Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:27 pm
FYI — Pace is not an acronym. It should not be in all caps. Many reporters get this wrong, including the Sun-Times today on this same story. Same for Metra and Amtrak.
Comment by Just Me Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:29 pm
Can you terminate someone’s *ownership* in something without compensating them? Seems suspect.
This is a heckuva CYA move though. I suspect it won’t be enough when a full accounting is given by the Feds though
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:29 pm
=== The $70K was provided by the government according to other reports.===
Yep, a fact @StatehouseChick missed while talking about this on radio.
My point, it’s odd that …
=== SafeSpeed did not know about the payment of government funds totaling $70,000 by Mr. Maani to Senator Sandoval===
Why would Sandoval think that these monies are magically ok… unless the culture (or books) show odd money transactions?
We might find that out.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:30 pm
Why is Safe Speed still in business? Why is any jurisdiction still using them?
Comment by Hard D Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 4:46 pm
===the people who work hard at the company every day and are invested in its success and integrity.===
Besides the actually hard working employees such as those who install the poles, the electricians, video guys, etc. I am not so impressed that they are that invested in the integrity part.
Comment by Been There Monday, Feb 3, 20 @ 10:13 pm