Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-Chicago housing director indicted in alleged kickback scheme

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-Chicago housing director indicted in alleged kickback scheme

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – A former Chicago Housing Authority property director is accused of steering more than $4.8 million in city business to a construction company in exchange for more than $421,000 in kickbacks.

Ryan Ross, 50, of Bolingbrook and Vanessa Rhodes, 47, of Chicago are both charged with eight counts of honest services fraud.

A federal indictment accused Ross of receiving the kickbacks in 2023 and 2024 from Rhodes, who owns a Chicago company that did business as Twenty Eleven Construction, Inc.

ONE OF FBI’S MOST WANTED SENTENCED FOR MACHINE GUN POSSESSION

A Belleville man who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for possessing a machine gun.

Dontay Moore, 23, is facing state charges in St. Louis for other offenses, including his alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that resulted in serious injuries to bystanders.

Prosecutors say his federal sentence will be in addition to any sentence imposed in state court. Moore was arrested by Illinois State Police in September 2025.

ICE-INVOLVED CRASH REPORTED IN CHICAGO

A pursuit reportedly involving federal immigration law enforcement officers ended in a crash on Chicago’s Northwest Side.

WGN-TV reports that the incident came to a halt around 11 a.m. on Tuesday in the 3800 block of North Olcott Avenue.

A witness said several unmarked vehicles followed a red Lexus and appeared to strike the Lexus before it crashed into a tree. Another witness said he later saw a man being escorted from the scene.

REPORT: THOUSANDS DROP OBAMACARE IN ILLINOIS

More than 92,000 Illinois consumers have lost or dropped Affordable Care Act health insurance in recent months.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the unusually large decline followed the expiration of tax credits that had helped to curb the plans’ costs.

Last month, Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee estimated that 120,825 people in Illinois would lose health insurance due to the ACA cuts proposed by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Allstate can’t delete class action over alleged secret app tracking

Allstate can’t delete class action over alleged secret app tracking

By Scott Holland | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge won’t fully end a class action accusing Allstate of using modern technology to surreptitiously track clients and use that...
Chicago voters view housing affordability as bigger issue than crime

Chicago voters view housing affordability as bigger issue than crime

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With local property taxes rising, Illinois State Rep. Dan Ugaste takes news that most voters now...
New Illinois gun bill aims at glock switches; critics say it misses the real problem

New Illinois gun bill aims at glock switches; critics say it misses the real problem

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed Illinois measure aimed at handguns that can be modified for automatic fire is drawing...
Illinois quick hits: Cook County spends nearly $20 million on food, housing services; Chicago Teachers Union tells teachers, students to skip school; Russell Dickerson to play Du Quoin State Fair

Illinois quick hits: Cook County spends nearly $20 million on food, housing services; Chicago Teachers Union tells teachers, students to skip school; Russell Dickerson to play Du Quoin State Fair

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Cook County spends nearly $20 million on food, housing services The Cook County Board has announced it will spend $19.9 million...
Sheriff Scam Alert Graphic

Will County Officials Warn of Zoom Court Scam Targeting Defendants for Fraudulent Dismissal Fees

Article Summary: Will County officials have issued an alert regarding a fraudulent scheme where scammers infiltrate courtroom Zoom sessions to extort money from defendants. The perpetrators use private chat features...

Illinois quick hits: Services Saturday for teen killed by line drive

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Services Saturday for teen killed by line drive A celebration of life is scheduled on Saturday, March 14, for a Chrisman,...
Critics concerned seizure detection bill impacts Illinois' small businesses

Critics concerned seizure detection bill impacts Illinois’ small businesses

By Sean Reed, The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Legislation that could make insurance companies cover seizure detection devices is advancing at the Illinois Statehouse. The...
CTA security enhancement plan follows federal push, complaints

CTA security enhancement plan follows federal push, complaints

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After resident complaints and threatened funding cuts by the Trump administration, the Chicago Transit Authority has submitted...
Lawyers who specialize in suing Chicago cops seek special prosecutor to go after ICE

Lawyers who specialize in suing Chicago cops seek special prosecutor to go after ICE

By Jonathan Bilyk.| Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Chicago law firm, with a business model built on raking in big, taxpayer-funded fees in cases representing people suing Chicago cops and...
Will County Board Land Use Committee Graphic.3

Will Land Use Committee Evaluates Multi-Million Dollar Buyout for Flooded Harris Drive Homes

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | March 5, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee is exploring a multi-million-dollar buyout program for several homes...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Behavioral Health Division Drops Wait Times, Reports Zero Opioid Deaths in February

Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | March 5, 2026 Article Summary: Will County’s Behavioral Health Division reported significant operational improvements, including a near-elimination of wait times for therapy and...
Will County Board Graphic.03

Harris Drive Residents Plead for County Intervention Amid Failing Septic Systems and Flooding

Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | March 5, 2026 Article Summary: Residents of Harris Drive appealed to the Public Health and Safety Committee for help with severe seasonal flooding...
Police Crime

Will County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Hit-and-Run in Homer Glen

Article Summary: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public's assistance in identifying a driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Homer Glen that left a pedestrian dead....
will county Committee-Public Health & Safety.Graphic

Federal Funding Freezes Threaten Will County Public Health Programs Amid Ongoing Lawsuits

Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | March 5, 2026 Article Summary: Will County health officials are bracing for potential service disruptions as they monitor multiple federal lawsuits surrounding frozen...
Legal experts anticipate SCOTUS will overturn drug user gun ban

Legal experts anticipate SCOTUS will overturn drug user gun ban

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Legal experts anticipate the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down a law barring unlawful drug users from possessing firearms. On Monday, justices of the U.S....