The Chicago Syndicate
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Thursday, March 03, 2022

Michael Madigan Indictment Details on Charges for Federal Racketeering and Bribery in Connection with Alleged Corruption Schemes

A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives MICHAEL J. MADIGAN on racketeering and bribery charges for allegedly using his official position to corruptly solicit and receive personal financial rewards for himself and his associates.

The 22-count indictment accuses Madigan of leading for nearly a decade a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to enhance Madigan’s political power and financial well-being while also generating income for his political allies and associates. The charges allege that Madigan, who served as Speaker and occupied a number of other roles, including Representative of Illinois’s 22nd District, Committeeman for Chicago’s 13th Ward, Chairman of both the Illinois Democratic Party and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and partner at the Chicago law firm of Madigan & Getzendanner, used these positions to further the goals of the criminal enterprise. The indictment alleges that Madigan directed the activities of his close friend – co-defendant MICHAEL F. MCCLAIN – and that McClain carried out illegal activities at Madigan’s behest. Madigan and McClain allegedly caused various businesses, including the utility company Commonwealth Edison, to make monetary payments to Madigan’s associates as a reward for their loyalty to Madigan, at times in return for performing little or no legitimate work for the businesses.

Madigan, McClain, and other members of the enterprise allegedly unlawfully solicited benefits from businesses and other private parties. The indictment accuses Madigan of engaging in multiple schemes to reap the benefits of private legal work unlawfully steered to his law firm, including legal work from those with business before the State of Illinois and City of Chicago.

Madigan, 79, of Chicago, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and individual counts of using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion. McClain, 74, of Quincy, Ill., is charged with racketeering conspiracy and individual counts of using interstate facilities in aid of bribery and wire fraud.

Arraignments in U.S. District Court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Timothy J. Chapman, Sarah E. Streicker, Michelle Kramer, and Julia Schwartz.

“Corruption by an elected official and his associates undermines the public’s confidence in our government,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “The indictment alleges a long-term, multifaceted scheme to use public positions for unlawful private gain. Rooting out and prosecuting the kind of corruption alleged in the indictment will always be a top priority for this office.”

“Our elected officials swear an oath to carry out the duties of their office,” said FBI SAC Buie. “When they dishonor that oath, it erodes the trust we have in our officials to do the right thing for our communities, and the FBI and its partners stand ready to stamp out corruption at any level of government.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation provides financial investigative expertise in our work with our law enforcement partners,” said IRS-CI SAC Campbell. “Our hallmark expertise in following the money trail in this type of case shows our agency is committed to rooting out public corruption. Today’s indictment underscores our commitment to this work in a collaborative effort to promote honest and ethical government at all levels, and to prosecute those who allegedly violate the public’s trust.”


Wednesday, March 02, 2022

The Annotated Godfather (50th Anniversary Edition): The Complete Screenplay, Commentary on Every Scene, Interviews, and Little-Known Facts

The Annotated Godfather (50th Anniversary Edition): The Complete Screenplay, Commentary on Every Scene, Interviews, and Little-Known Facts. Hardcover – Special Edition.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Godfather, this authorized, annotated and illustrated edition of the complete, unedited screenplay includes all the little-known facts, behind-the-scenes intrigue, and first-person reflections from cast and crew members on the making of this landmark film.

From its ingenious cinematic innovations and memorable, oft-quoted script to its iconic cast, including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, The Godfather is considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made. And yet, the history of its making is so colorful, so chaotic, that one cannot help but marvel at the seemingly insurmountable odds it overcame to become a true cinematic masterpiece, and a film that continues to captivate its audience decades after its release.

In this annotated and illustrated edition of the complete original screenplay, nearly every scene is examined and dissected, including:
  • Fascinating commentary on technical details about the filming and shooting locations
  • Tales from the set, including arguments, accidents, and anecdotes
  • Profiles of the actors and stories of how they were cast
  • Deleted scenes that never made the final cut, and the goofs and gaffes that did
  • And much more

Interviews with former Paramount executives, cast and crew members, and and all-new foreword by Francis Ford Coppola, round out the commentary and shed new light on everything you thought you knew about this most influential film. With more than 200 photographs, this a truly unique, collectable keepsake for every Godfather fan.


Tuesday, March 01, 2022

Authorities Endure Freezing Temperatures in Order to Capture Massachusetts Fugitive in Maine #NorthWoodsLaw #Fugitive #Maine #Massachusetts

Snowmobiles and Ice Fisherman were not the only ones out on Embden Pond yesterday. A team of federal, state, and local authorities surrounded a residence in Embden, Maine in order to capture a wanted fugitive.

The U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Violent Offender Task Force announce the arrest of Tylor Santos, 29 of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Santos was being sought by authorities on a warrant issued out of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm.

Through a collaborative effort, investigators determined that Santos fled to Maine after being identified as a suspect in a shooting on January 6th, 2022, in New Bedford, MA.

Investigators learned Santos was at a residence on Embden Pond. Authorities were able to safely apprehend Santos early this morning without incident. William Bowring, 39 of Bingham, Maine was also arrested at the scene on a failure to appear warrant for felony theft out of Somerset County, Maine.

The USMS Maine Violent Offender Task Force was assisted by the USMS Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force, Maine State Police Tactical Team, Massachusetts State Police, The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Boston Division, New Bedford Police Department, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The U.S. Marshals Service Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S Marshals Service, Maine State Police, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.


Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Choices: You Make 'em You Own 'em: The Jerry Tillinghast Story

In a remarkably personal and intimate account, Jerry Tillinghast, one of the most popular characters from the first season of Crimetown, talks about his life and the choices he made in Choices: You Make 'em You Own 'em: The Jerry Tillinghast Story.

Battling alongside his brothers on the streets of Providence. Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps,fighting in Vietnam, and becoming a victim of the politics of that war. Returning to Providence an angry young man and his choice to hang with the wiseguys.

The cost of his reputation as a "feared mob enforcer" and the effect on his family. Meeting Raymond L.S. Patriarca, the notorious head of the New England Organized Crime Family and how he came to embrace him as a father figure.

He revals the indisde story of his brushes with the law and the two most infamous cases in Rhode Island history that he is forever linked to: Bonded Vault and the George Basmajian Homicide.

Jerry was found not guilty after the Bonded Vault trial, but his luck ran out with the Benjamin murder. Convicted with Jerry was his brother, Harold Tillinghast. Since the moment of their arrest, Jerry has said just one thing. Harold was not in the car.

Jerry Tillinghast, a featured character of the Crimetown podcast, one of the most downloaded podcasts in the world, tells his life story with honesty and emotion. Setting the record straight after 40 years of silence.

Silent no more...


Monday, February 14, 2022

Tales of a Texas Game Warden by Benny Richards - Former Game Warden with @TexasGameWarden on @LoneStarLawAP #LoneStarLaw

Most Texas game wardens work alone much of the time in very rural out of the way and unnamed places.

It is not uncommon for wardens to find themselves in situations where they are enforcing the law on uncooperative subjects who are armed. They are alone with no other officers in sight for miles. And, at a hidden hunting camp on some secluded ranch at midnight, no one could find them even if backup was available. This is when training, skill, experience, and luck come in. The skills and knowledge they possess, the conditions that they sometimes work under, and the uniqueness of the state they serve makes Texas State Game Wardens an elite group of law enforcement officers. For a quarter century the author, Benny Richards, was proud to be one of those game wardens. These are his stories.

TALES OF A TEXAS GAME WARDEN is an opportunity for a reader to climb aboard and go on patrol with one of Texas' most experienced and well-known game wardens. In the woods and over the water, through daylight and darkness, sometimes deadly serious, sometimes just humorous, this thrilling collection of tales reveals what it is really like to wear the blue badge of a Texas Game Warden.


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