Like & Share

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Co-defendant outs alleged Troutman target

We now know who Troutman was attempting to get a kickback from as she continues to battle corruption charges in federal court. In February she was turned out of office in favor of Willie Cochran for her 20th Ward Aldermanic seat. From the Sun-Times...
A prominent Chicago developer was one of former Ald. Arenda Troutman's alleged extortion targets, one of her co-defendants says in a new court filing.

Troutman is accused in a federal indictment of pressuring an unnamed developer to hire Vincent Gilbert as a consultant on a proposed project in the 20th Ward. In court papers, Gilbert now identifies the development company as ANSCO.

The company, whose president is Andres Schcolnik, has developed several landmark properties on the South Side -- including the Grand Ballroom, in the 6300 block of South Cottage Grove. Schcolnik declined to comment.

Gilbert -- facing prosecution with Troutman -- insists in his court filing that he was qualified for the $5,000 contract he signed with ANSCO in 2005 to do public relations and other work on the project. The indictment accused Troutman of forcing the developer to hire Gilbert even though he had "little, if any, real estate experience."

Later, Troutman allegedly tried to get the developer to make her brother a partner in the unidentified project, telling him: "And then, I'm paid through him, see?"

But the developer was cooperating with prosecutors.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are now moderated because one random commenter chose to get comment happy. What doesn't get published is up to my discretion. Of course moderating policy is subject to change. Thanks!