Corruption

Illinois has paid out millions in pension payments to ex-lawmakers who have admitted criminal wrongdoing or are awaiting trial.

Anthony Weaver, a former aide to two county elected officials, admitted in October that he helped a local business owner attempt to fraudulently obtain small-business grants early in the pandemic.

Lewis Reed and Jeffrey Boyd both admitted to multiple felonies connected to a scheme in which they accepted cash, campaign contributions and other gifts from a developer in exchange for helping him get incentives.

John Collins-Muhammad is the first of three former aldermen charged with bribery to plead guilty in the scheme, which saw the men take cash and other gifts in exchange for helping a developer get incentives.

A second former alderman, Jeffrey Boyd, also says he will not file any motions ahead of trial. An attorney for Boyd would not clarify whether that meant his client had also reached a deal.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said Wednesday that recent federal public corruption indictments are “the tip of the iceberg.”

A former assistant to a county councilwoman and current jail administrator has been charged in an attempted COVID relief kickback plan.

Tim Lowry, an agent for Ackerman Insurance in Red Bud, faces up to five years in federal prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 22.

Kevin Hutchinson also received a $500 fine, and 40 hours of community service.

He will be sentenced in June by U.S. District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn.