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

Comey indicted on obstruction charges over Russia-Trump collusion testimony

Comey indicted on obstruction charges over Russia-Trump collusion testimony

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Thursday on charges that he lied to Congress when he denied claims that he leaked classified documents to...
California education system support efforts to restrict ICE

California education system support efforts to restrict ICE

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The California education system continues to fight U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid new laws claiming protection for students and California residents. With the Trump...
Tariffs, looming government shutdown fuel fears in Colorado

Tariffs, looming government shutdown fuel fears in Colorado

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado Democrats are warning Trump-backed tariffs and a looming federal government shutdown could drive up costs and cause economic insecurity for Coloradans, sparking sharp pushback...
WATCH: Pritzker creates governors group as IL legislators debate increased energy bills

WATCH: Pritzker creates governors group as IL legislators debate increased energy bills

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday announced the creation of a new group of governors impacted by...
Attorneys general file amicus brief supporting DEI policies

Attorneys general file amicus brief supporting DEI policies

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Illinois, California and Massachusetts are co-leading a coalition of Democratic attorneys general from 17 states filing an amicus brief to a lawsuit fighting federal orders...
Illinois lawmaker, physician pushes back on Trump Tylenol announcement

Illinois lawmaker, physician pushes back on Trump Tylenol announcement

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois health officials push back on new federal guidance, saying Tylenol use in pregnancy does not...
Auto industry's check engine light flashes as Trump's tariffs hit

Auto industry’s check engine light flashes as Trump’s tariffs hit

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The stock of the largest seller of used vehicles fell more than 20% on Thursday after the company released lower-than-expected earnings the day after the...

Illinois quick hits: Nearly 10,000 fewer jobs; temporary amnesty for delinquent taxpayers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Nearly 10,000 fewer jobs According to data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of...
Election organization backs Republicans' suit against Arizona

Election organization backs Republicans’ suit against Arizona

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Honest Elections Project, a nonpartisan organization, has filed an amicus brief in support of Republicans' lawsuit against Arizona over its handling of changes to its...
Home prices hit record as sales dip in August

Home prices hit record as sales dip in August

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Sales of existing homes fell in August as high prices limited sales despite relaxing mortgage rates. Existing-home sales declined 0.2% in August from July, according...

‘La Diabla’ baby trafficker, organ harvester caught

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)-affiliated baby trafficking ringleader, Martha Alicia Mendez Aguilar, also known as "La Diabla,” has been arrested as part of a...
Patel says ICE shooting suspected searched 'Charlie Kirk Shot,' planned attack

Patel says ICE shooting suspected searched ‘Charlie Kirk Shot,’ planned attack

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square FBI Director Kash Patel suggested the suspected shooter in the Sept. 24 attack at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility engaged in a “high...
Trump administration prepares for mass layoffs if government shuts down

Trump administration prepares for mass layoffs if government shuts down

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With only six days until the federal government shuts down, Republicans and Democrats have yet to secure a funding deal – and the Trump administration...
Report: Strict energy siting regulations curb property rights

Report: Strict energy siting regulations curb property rights

By Tate MillerThe Center Square In conjunction with the unveiling of a report on property rights and energy generation infrastructure, Republican Massachusetts state Rep. John Gaskey on Thursday called for...
New agronomy farm opens as growers face challenging conditions

New agronomy farm opens as growers face challenging conditions

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Tens of thousands of Illinois farmers are facing challenging conditions, with elevated fire risks due to the...