Final ComEd Four defendant sentenced – Washington Examiner
A federal judge sentenced Jay Doherty, a former contract lobbyist, to one year and one day in prison plus a $500 fine for his involvement in a bribery scheme tied to former Illinois House Speaker Michael madigan. Doherty was the last of the “ComEd Four” defendants convicted in 2023 of conspiracy, bribery, and falsifying records related to a corruption scandal involving utility company ComEd.ComEd agreed to pay $200 million in 2020 to settle a federal investigation into the scheme,which involved providing jobs and contracts to Madigan allies in exchange for political influence. Other defendants, including former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, and former state representative Michael McClain, previously received prison sentences ranging from 18 months to two years. Michael madigan was separately convicted on multiple counts and sentenced to 7.5 years in prison. The scandal has prompted calls from Illinois lawmakers for stronger ethics laws and oversight of lobbying activities.
Final ComEd Four defendant sentenced
(The Center Square) – A federal judge has sentenced former contract lobbyist Jay Doherty to one year plus one day in prison for his role in a scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
The last of the ComEd Four defendants to be sentenced learned his fate Tuesday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. U.S. District Court Judge Manish Shah also ordered Doherty to pay a $500 fine.
A jury convicted Doherty, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, former ComEd Chief Executive Officer Anne Pramaggiore and former state Rep. and lobbyist Michael McClain of conspiracy, bribery and falsifying records in 2023.
ComEd agreed in 2020 to pay $200 million to resolve a criminal investigation into the years-long bribery scheme. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, ComEd admitted it arranged jobs, vendor subcontracts and payments in a bid to influence Madigan.
Throughout the ComEd Four and Madigan corruption trials, U.S. government attorneys detailed evidence of the scheme and how Madigan allies were hired to do little or no work through contractors like Doherty.
In a recorded video from Feb. 7, 2019, codefendant Michael McClain discussed the deals with then-ComEd executive Fidel Marquez.
“It’s a favor, and Doherty has the contract, so Doherty is the one that has to prove. If the IRS ever comes in and says, ‘Who are these guys and what do they do?’ Doherty’s got to prove it. The company doesn’t have to,” McClain said.
Marquez was secretly cooperating with the government at the time.
Undercover video from Feb. 7, 2019, of Fidel Marquez and Michael McClain was shown during the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan where McClain is a codefendant.
In a video recorded six days later on Feb. 13, 2019, Doherty explained to Marquez why he would not mess with ComEd’s contracts for Madigan allies.
“Your money comes from Springfield, ComEd money, right, I mean for the most part?” Doherty asked.
“You mean, that’s how we make our money, through our rates? Yes,” Marquez answered.
“ComEd Four” video evidence from Feb. 13, 2019, with Fidel Marquez and Jay Doherty
Doherty told Marquez he wouldn’t fix what isn’t broken.
“Madigan doesn’t ask. I never, ever once had a conversation with Mike about these people, but I have every reason to believe that McClain has. I know Hooker has,” Doherty said.
In addition to his 366-day prison sentence, Doherty was ordered to pay a $500 fine. He is scheduled to report to prison on Sept. 30.
Prosecutors had recommended a 15-month sentence for Doherty. Defense attorney Gabrielle Sansonetti requested probation. Sansonetti also represented former Illinois state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, D-Chicago, when Acevedo testified during the Madigan trial.
On July 14, Shah sentenced the first of the ComEd Four defendants, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, to 1.5 years in prison and ordered him to pay a $500,000 fine.
On July 21, Shah sentenced Anne Pramaggiore to two years in prison and ordered the former ComEd CEO to pay a $750,000 fine.
On July 24, Shah sentenced McClain to 2 years in prison.
In a separate trial, Madigan and McClain faced 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme federal prosecutors called the “Madigan Enterprise.” McClain was not convicted on any of the 23 counts in that case, but a jury found Madigan guilty on 10 counts in February. The former speaker was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $2.5 million.
DARIN LAHOOD APPEARS TO PASS ON ILLINOIS SENATE RUN IN BLOW TO STATE GOP HOPES
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, said Illinois’ ethics laws are too weak.
“We on our side of the aisle and other advocacy groups have been pushing for years and several General Assemblies now to strengthen our laws around lobbying, what legislators can do while they are elected officials and after they are elected officials as it relates to lobbying,” Windhorst told The Center Square.
Windhorst said it is also important to strengthen the position of the Legislative Inspector General.
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