About Cook GOP
Chairman
Leadership
City Of Chicago
Cook County
9/2/2010
Stroger Just Doesn't Care Anymore
8/31/2010
Berrios Under the Microscope
8/31/2010
GOP Takes Unprecedented 10-Point Lead on Generic Ballot
09/07/2010
Regular Lemont GOP meeting
09/08/2010
Reception for Senator Bill Brady
09/12/2010
Carl Segvich for Commissioner Fundraiser
Had Enough of Pat Quinn?
Pat Quinn's Christmas in July
Katie Brady on Her Dad, Bill Brady
Ex-Streets and San boss found guilty of rigging hiring
7/21/2010 1:33:01 PM
Al Sanchez, the former commissioner of Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation, was convicted today of scheming to rig city hiring.
Sanchez nodded once and slid his folded hands off the defense table as U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman read the verdict.
The nine-woman, three-man jury also convicted co-defendant Aaron Del Valle, who worked for Sanchez, of perjury.
Sanchez was the longtime leader of the Hispanic Democratic Organization, a patronage army formed to support Mayor Richard Daley and his allies.
Sanchez and Del Valle were convicted in March 2009, but last December U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman overturned their convictions after ruling prosecutors violated disclosure rules by failing to reveal a key witness's extensive arrest record and gang membership.
Leaving the courtroom following Sanchez's conviction a second time, his attorney, Thomas Breen said he was "terribly disappointed" by the verdict.
"(Sanchez) is a great man who provided great service to the city of Chicago," said Breen.
Del Valle's attorney, Martin Dolan, said there were "bigger fish" for prosecutors to pursue than his client, though he declined to name individuals.
"They were caught in this whole cycle of a system they did not understand," Dolan said. "It's disappointing that the government chose to go after them."
