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* Sigh…
We reported earlier this week that she'd been fired from American Income Life Insurance "for cause" in 2014 but that the reason was unknown. So now we know.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Parthum asked that she be able to question Collins on the topic and the judge agreed.— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) February 9, 2024
Sam McCann has been *taken into custody* after not being able to prove he communicated to the federal probation office like he was supposed to after getting discharged from the hospital Weds
Judge Lawless: “There seems to be an excuse every time. There are no more excuses, sir.” https://t.co/gLNQk5He8D
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) February 9, 2024
…Adding… Tribune…
A longtime Chicago political operative pleaded guilty Tuesday to a scheme to bribe then-state Sen. Martin Sandoval on behalf of a suburban construction company that needed state approval for a development in East Dundee.
William Helm, the onetime deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation and a former state transportation official, also admitted in a plea agreement with prosecutors that he and others helped arrange $40,000 in bribes to other, unnamed officials. […]
Sandoval pleaded guilty in January 2020 to bribery and tax charges and was cooperating in the ongoing investigation when he died in December 2020 of COVID-19 complications.
He admitted to taking $20,000 in campaign contributions — and later $70,000 cash from a SafeSpeed co-owner who was secretly working with agents — to act as the company’s “protector” in the Illinois Senate.
…Adding… From Hannah’s story…
U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless had ordered McCann to communicate with the federal probation office upon his discharge from Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, where he’d checked himself in after a weekend of feeling unwell.
But McCann was only able to prove he’d emailed his probation officer on Wednesday, when he was told he’d be discharged from the hospital later in the day. Accompanied by an assistant U.S. marshal, McCann went to retrieve his cell phone from his Ford F-250 pickup truck parked outside the courthouse – the same make and model of a vehicle prosecutors allege McCann partially funded illegally with campaign cash – in order to show Lawless he’d also emailed the probation officer when he got home, like he’d been ordered to.
But he couldn’t find anything in his sent email folder.
“I don’t see it, your honor,” McCann said. “I know that I sent it. I know that I hit ‘send’ twice.”
Twice!
…Adding… Jason’s story…
Federal prosecutors revealed Friday that former state legislator Annazette Collins was fired from an insurance job shortly after leaving the General Assembly for filing bogus insurance policies for customers who either didn’t ask for them or “did not exist.”
The disclosure came after lawyers for Collins told the judge she intended to testify in her own defense in her tax fraud case, which is now in its fourth day at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 11:43 am
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Has the buck finally stopped for Sam McCann? If he were a student of history, he would realize that sooner or later he would face a judge. Time’s up, Sam.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 11:56 am
Re: McCann - couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Comment by Sad Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 12:03 pm
Re: Annazette Collins.
Derrick Smith and Rickey Hendon were unavailable for comment.
Comment by Stuck in Celliniland Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 12:28 pm
Sam needs glasses for the phone, it lost its contacts
Comment by rabid Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 12:55 pm
Bill Helm Day is finally here. This guy carried himself for years as if he was a connected wise guy. He was certainly not the only ward heeler to behave like this, and maybe 20 years ago the feds thought he was too small-time to target.
The longer his plea deal took to finalize, the more I was hoping he’d rat out some of his colleagues. But then again, if he did so, he’d probably have to cop to enough corruption on his own part that he’d lose his sweet public pension.
From what I’ve read about this case, it looks like the feds stumbled upon him almost by accident. I guess they weren’t looking too hard before he branched out into business development work for shady operators.
Enjoy your golden years Bill. Do us all a favor and stay retired.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 1:48 pm
These people are so dumb the hard working crooks would want nothing to do with them
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 2:30 pm
McCann always reminded me of Mel…from Mel’s Diner…only more brazen.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 2:57 pm
Do we all feel exceptional or invincible in some way?
“Lung cancer happens to other people who smoke, not me.”
“Other people’s kids are the ones who commit crimes.”
“I can get away with this, no one is watching.”
Or maybe people simply don’t bring their actions to the level of conscious awareness? This must be understood by some of you. How many examples do people need to see how this can end up?
Comment by state worker Friday, Feb 9, 24 @ 3:35 pm
I only met her once, but I’m not sure Annazette Collins could sell enough insurance to owe $100,000.
Comment by James in Little Italy Wednesday, Feb 14, 24 @ 5:08 pm