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

Bull Moose Project criticizes Sen. Lummis over stalled crypto legislation

Bull Moose Project criticizes Sen. Lummis over stalled crypto legislation

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A conservative advocacy group is pressuring U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., over her handling of a major digital asset bill, arguing that she slowed progress...
Polis calls on U.S. Treasury to extend free tax filing service

Polis calls on U.S. Treasury to extend free tax filing service

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado Gov. Jared Polis sent a letter this week to the U.S. Treasury Department calling on it to undo its suspension of the IRS Direct...
Screenshot 2025-12-05 at 11.56.48 AM

Tensions Flare as Board Members Clash Over Budget Process and Protocol

Will County Board Meeting | December 4, 2025 Article Summary: A special meeting intended to fix a budget error turned contentious as board members traded accusations regarding transparency, meeting conduct,...
Screenshot 2025-12-05 at 11.57.25 AM

Will County Board Approves $2.7 Million Reserve Draw to Finalize 0% Tax Levy

Will County Board Meeting | December 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously voted to transfer approximately $2.78 million from cash reserves to balance the fiscal year 2026...
Netflix buys Burbank-based Warner Bros. for $72 billion

Netflix buys Burbank-based Warner Bros. for $72 billion

By Dave MasonThe Center Square The multibillion dollar question of who’s buying Warner Bros. was answered Friday when Netflix announced its purchase of the iconic Burbank studio. After a weeks-long...

IL Sec of State criticizes TSA fee option, extends REAL ID facility lease

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is criticizing the federal government’s plan to offer travelers without proper...
Illinois quick hits: US Steel reopening Granite City furnace; unemployment down slightly

Illinois quick hits: US Steel reopening Granite City furnace; unemployment down slightly

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square US Steel reopening Granite City furnace U.S. Steel says customer demand has driven the company to begin the process of restarting...
WATCH: Gun ban with SCOTUS; ICE enforcement pushback; End of life options bill with gov

WATCH: Gun ban with SCOTUS; ICE enforcement pushback; End of life options bill with gov

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the status...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Crete-Monee School District 201-U for November 2025

Crete-Monee School District 201-U Meeting | November 2025 The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education met on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, for a meeting that balanced celebration with serious...
U.S. Supreme Court takes up Michigan foreclosure case

U.S. Supreme Court takes up Michigan foreclosure case

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square A Michigan family’s decades-long fight over a property seizure will soon be before the U.S. Supreme Court, marking the latest high-stakes challenge to how counties...
Grand jury declines to re-indict Letitia James

Grand jury declines to re-indict Letitia James

By Chris WadeThe Center Square The Justice Department has reportedly failed to secure a new indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James in a blow to the Trump administration's...
U.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas' new congressional maps

U.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas’ new congressional maps

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday handed Texas a win in a challenge to its new congressional redistricting maps, granting a stay of a lower...
In last four years, five northern states saw most illegal crossings

In last four years, five northern states saw most illegal crossings

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Under the Biden administration, the greatest number of illegal border crossers at the U.S.-Canada border were reported in U.S. history, breaking records nearly every month...
Illinois quick hits: Another attack on CTA passenger; plaintiffs move to dismiss their ICE use of force case

Illinois quick hits: Another attack on CTA passenger; plaintiffs move to dismiss their ICE use of force case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Another attack on CTA passenger Illinois House Republicans say the SAFE-T Act continues to fail Illinois residents after a suspect with...
Some push for FDA approval of psychedelic treatments for veterans

Some push for FDA approval of psychedelic treatments for veterans

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square State leaders across the country are pushing for medical trials of the psychedelic drug ibogaine to treat neurological conditions. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry spoke...