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

WATCH: Pritzker: ‘No’ to state taxpayer-funded guaranteed income

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he is not planning to follow Cook County by implementing a guaranteed income...

WATCH: IL congresswoman willing to withhold highway dollars over CDL issues

By Greg BishopThe Center Square A Republican congresswoman from Illinois is looking to enforce federal Commercial Drivers License requirements by withholding federal funds from states that aren’t compliant. Data provided...
Disability group, coroners press governor ahead of assisted suicide decision

Disability group, coroners press governor ahead of assisted suicide decision

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Chicago-based disability-rights organization is seeking a meeting with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office as Illinois prepares...
35 lawmakers unveil bipartisan health care proposal, beg leadership to adopt it

35 lawmakers unveil bipartisan health care proposal, beg leadership to adopt it

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With only 27 days until the enhanced Obamacare Premium Tax Credits expire, a group of U.S. House members is urging congressional leadership to accept a...
DOJ confirms identity of pipe bomb suspect

DOJ confirms identity of pipe bomb suspect

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice offered few details in the ongoing investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect related to pipe bombs planted...
Trump admin implements swath of visa restrictions for dozens of countries

Trump admin implements swath of visa restrictions for dozens of countries

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Trump administration has implemented a swath of visa restrictions citing national security threats, human rights abuses and illegal immigration. After National Guard troops were...
Legislation would limit U.S. military action toward Venezuela

Legislation would limit U.S. military action toward Venezuela

By Shirleen GuerraThe Center Square A new proposal in Congress led by a Virginia U.S. senator aims to prevent the federal government from using taxpayer money for military operations toward...
Fanatics starts sports prediction app, not subject to state taxes, in 24 states

Fanatics starts sports prediction app, not subject to state taxes, in 24 states

By Jon StyfThe Center Square Americans can now wager on sports results through Fanatics Predicts in 24 states that have not allowed legal sports wagering including California, Texas, Georgia, Washington...
Judge dismisses challenge to National Park Service cash policy

Judge dismisses challenge to National Park Service cash policy

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A judge again dismissed a legal challenge to the National Park Service's no-cash policy at about 28 of the federal agency's 433 parks. U.S. District...
Netflix bid for Warner Bros draws antitrust warnings from GOP lawmakers

Netflix bid for Warner Bros draws antitrust warnings from GOP lawmakers

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Netflix’s attempt to buy major assets from Warner Bros Discovery is already facing criticism from Republican lawmakers who say the proposed deal could raise significant...

WATCH: Admiral to tell Congress suspected drug boat still posed threat

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. Navy admiral who ordered additional military strikes on a damaged boat with two survivors plans to tell Congress the suspected smugglers planned to...
House committee opens investigation into Minnesota welfare fraud

House committee opens investigation into Minnesota welfare fraud

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Congress has begun an investigation into a large-scale fraud scheme that led to hundreds of millions of dollars being stolen from Minnesota’s social welfare programs...
Colorado receives $420M from feds for high-speed internet

Colorado receives $420M from feds for high-speed internet

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The federal government awarded Colorado nearly $420.6 million for high-speed internet investments throughout the state. The announcement came this week and was applauded by Colorado...
WATCH: U.S. Rep. Miller live; Heated rhetoric in Congress; SNAP, ‘basic income’ debate

WATCH: U.S. Rep. Miller live; Heated rhetoric in Congress; SNAP, ‘basic income’ debate

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 talks live with...
Illinois quick hits: Layoff announcements; Freedom Caucus criticizes library association

Illinois quick hits: Layoff announcements; Freedom Caucus criticizes library association

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Layoff announcements According to the latest Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices, 1,138 employees across the state will be...