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

Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 12.12.11 PM

IDOT Plans to Invest Over $1.3 Billion in Will County Roads Through 2031

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has allocated over $1.3 billion for road and bridge projects in...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 11.39.54 AM

Committee Advances 50% Increase in Mental Health Levy on 4-3 Vote

Will County Finance Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Finance Committee on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposed $12 million levy for the Community Mental Health Board,...
Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 11.04.45 AM

Peotone Schools to Tackle $372,000 in Unpaid Fees with New Plan

207U School Regular Board Meeting September 22, 2025 Article Summary: Peotone School District 207U is implementing a new two-pronged strategy to collect approximately $372,000 in outstanding student fees, some dating...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 11.19.48 AM

Will County Poised to Launch Major Mental Health Initiative Based on Joliet Program’s Success

Will County Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting October 2, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee on Thursday considered establishing "Will County CARES," a...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 12.05.35 PM

Looming State Energy Bill Threatens to Further Limit County Control Over Solar and Wind Projects

Will County Legislative Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: A state energy bill likely to be considered during the fall veto session or next spring could further strip Will...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 11.52.31 AM

Controversial Immigrant Rights Resolution Postponed by Will County Board After Heated Debate

Will County Executive Committee Meeting October 9, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee voted to indefinitely postpone a contentious resolution titled "Declaring Will County's Commitment to Ensure Communities...
$4.5B awarded in new contracts to build Smart Wall along southwest border

$4.5B awarded in new contracts to build Smart Wall along southwest border

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Roughly $4.5 billion in contracts have been awarded to expand border wall construction, including adding advanced technological surveillance along the southwest border. Ten new construction...
Do No Harm expects FTC to take action to protect minors from transgender procedures

Do No Harm expects FTC to take action to protect minors from transgender procedures

By Tate MillerThe Center Square (The Center Square ) – After submitting comments to the Federal Trade Commission's public inquiry on how the child transgender industry has harmed and deceived...
2024 was deadliest year for journalists on record

2024 was deadliest year for journalists on record

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Last year was the deadliest year for journalists on record, with the Gaza Strip being the deadliest location, according to multiple reports. Totals vary depending...
Govt shutdown raises concerns over national security

Govt shutdown raises concerns over national security

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square As partisan divides appear to deepen and prolong the partial government shutdown, bipartisan lawmakers said they are concerned about national security effects of the funding...
Ex-speaker Madigan to begin 7.5-year prison sentence Monday

Ex-speaker Madigan to begin 7.5-year prison sentence Monday

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One day before the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session is scheduled to begin, one of the...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 11.39.50 AM

Will County’s Gas-to-Energy Plant Reports Nearly $460,000 Net Loss Amid Operational Setbacks

Will County Finance Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: Will County's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plant at the county landfill posted a net loss of nearly $460,000 for the...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 11.36.47 AM

Will County to Draft First-Ever Policy on Artificial Intelligence Use

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board's Capital Improvements & IT Committee has initiated the process of drafting a comprehensive...
Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 11.04.41 AM

Safety Surveys Reveal Over $570,000 in Needed Repairs at Peotone Schools

207U School Regular Board Meeting September 22, 2025 Article Summary: Ten-year health and life safety surveys for four Peotone school buildings have identified a combined total of over $570,000 in...
Screenshot 2025-10-10 at 11.20.18 AM

Will County Sees 50% Drop in Opioid Deaths, But Alarming Rise in Suicides

Will County Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting October 2, 2025 Article Summary: Will County is experiencing a dramatic 50% reduction in opioid overdose deaths compared to last year, a...