First Conviction Of Loren Maltese example essay topic

Many people, especially those who rarely partake in politics, are unaware of the problems concerning corruption in many government positions. In analyzing articles gathered from the Chicago Tribune, there are a wide variety of issues covered relating to political corruption including local city government, issues across the country, and also throughout the world as well. The emphasis will be on Betty Loren-Maltese, the Cicero town president who has recently been convicted on several accounts of corruption charges. This topic is significant for many reasons. Corrupt city government officials sometimes embezzle large sums of money and use it for their own purposes. The money they are "stealing" is often the taxpayers' money.

When this is the case, it is absolutely necessary that the taxpayers be made aware of the situation. A corrupt Judge might conceal the fact that he is in relation to somebody involved in a case he is trying, causing an unjust decision. If this situation was to the advantage of the defendant, there could be a defendant wrongfully acquitted, free and endangering the public. People need to know if their money and trust are going to the wrong place. Every citizen should take a more active role in informing themselves on who they elect into offices as well as who is already in office governing the people. One topic concerning political corruption covered in the Chicago Tribune is the Cook County Judge who received a six-month suspension after admitting to "a series of ethical lapses".

(Aug. 31st, Metro: 13). Associate Judge Lamb ros J. Kutrubis received a six month unpaid vacation after he admitted to falsifying information on his own tax returns and also failing to declare himself in relation to many cases that involved people he knew personally, including family. In 1989 he accepted and tried a case involving his stepdaughter. This article neither slanders nor suggests particular judgement be placed in one direction or another on Judge Kutrubis. The article merely states the facts and allows the public to create their own opinions. Another corruption scandal covered in the Chicago Tribune is the Providence, Rhode Island mayor.

Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr. was accused of accepting bribes in exchange for tax breaks, favors and jobs with the city. While the mass of corruption was taking place, Providence was also receiving new parks, a thriving new art scene and a new mall. Although the Providence mayor was obviously doing wonderful things for the city, he was at the same time taking advantage of his position for personal gain, and consequently he was convicted on federal charges. "Mayor Vincent Cianci Jr., was sentenced to more than five years Friday by a Judge who portrayed him as a Jekyll and Hyde figure who revitalized Providence even as he turned City Hall into a hotbed of bribery". (Sept.

7, News: 10). The article states that Cianci plans to appeal the conviction. "State law required Cianci to leave office after being sentenced, and City Council President John Lombardi was sworn in to serve out th remainder of his term, which expires in January. Voters in Tuesday's primary will choose the top candidates to succeed Cianci". (Sept.

7, news: 10). Also sentenced was mayoral aide Frank Corrente to over five years and tow-truck operator Richard Autiello to just under four years on three corruption charges. These two men will join Cianci Jr. in federal prison as well as losing their jobs. This is important information for the public to know. First, it is important that people be made aware of scandals that are going on in their own backyards, which may or may not affect them.

It shows that the government can and will punish those found guilty of corruption, regardless of personality and public opinion. It also teaches the public about federal laws, such as the law that states that when convicted of a federal offense, one is required to leave a government office. The article is informational as well as educational. Closer to home is the case of Ambrosio Me drano. He took over $30,000 in bribes and placed two friends on the city payroll that did not work for the city, collecting $48,000.

He now wishes to take a seat in government office once again, claiming that he has paid his dues. If he succeeds, he will be the first to recapture his seat in government office after serving his time in federal prison on corruption charges. Though only serving 21 months, he plead guilty to extortion and received 30 months in the Oxford, Wisconsin federal prison, home to many white-collar criminals as well as Chicago politicians. He claims that "people who have paid their debt to society shouldn't have doors closed on them".

(Nov. 2, News: 1). However, the federal law disagrees. "The 1993 amendment to the state election statute barring convicted felons from local office was passed after onetime City Clerk Walter Kozubowski refused to resign until his sentencing, months after his conviction on corruption charges". (Nov. 2, News: 1). The article also states that if a potential candidate wishes to contest the constitutionality of this law and run for office regardless, he may do so only with a pardon by the governor. This article is extremely informational.

The public is made aware of a number of cases involving local officials associated with corruption and what they are doing before, during and after their prison time. It also informs the public on important federal laws as well as why and where these laws were derived from. In news around the world, the son of Nigeria's late dictator General Sani Abacha, was released from prison after serving three years on embezzlement charges. He reportedly embezzled billions in state funds for personal advantage. He had been released once earlier that week, then re-arrested, and now President Olusegun Obasanjo has ordered his release for the second time. Thousands of Abacha's supporters had protested the re-arrest.

In Mexico City, two generals have been convicted of aiding drug smugglers. General Francisco Quirks received 16 years in prison and Brig. General Arturo Acosta received 15 years. They were found guilty of protecting drug lord Amado Carrillo and using military airplanes to transport drug shipments. Like in the United States, these two are no longer in rank or possess military decoration. These articles are short but informative. There is enough to know what is happening in other parts of the world.

The content of the article shows the American public that the corruption that occurs in our government occurs everyday in the rest of the world as well, in addition to the fact that corruption is dealt with similarly all over the world. ' Although many people do not realize the amount of corruption, often those that do choose to ignore it, possibly under the assumption that it does not affect them personally. These articles will hopefully wake people up to the realization that corruption does happen, it does affect everyone, and people do need to start acknowledging it when it happens. It is a growing issue that people need to take more seriously. The main topic of news coverage in articles that I have gathered is the scandal pertaining to Betty Loren-Maltese.

News coverage on her case was extensive, with articles being published almost everyday. The public was well informed on the situation and kept up to date with the daily articles. At the time that I began following Loren-Maltese's case, she had already been tried and convicted in August of allowing her town's mob-controlled insurance administrators rob Cicero of $12 million dollars in the late 1990's. Loren-Maltese and six others involved in the scheme, including Cicero mob boss Micheal Spano Sr., were required to turn over $4 million in fraudulent profits as well as a wealthy golf course and also a vacation home, both located in Wisconsin. "Speaking out for the first time now that the jury had completed its work, heads of both the FBI and IRS in Chicago made reference to Cicero's corruption and infamous ties to legendary mob boss Al Capone in lauding their joint investigative efforts that led to Loren-Maltese's fall from power". (Aug. 27, News: 1).

The vacation home, bought by Spano is reportedly worth almost $680,000. The golf course could be worth up to $3 million. Prosecutors would freeze property and bank accounts belonging to the defendants in order to collect the liability of each. The defendants may also be court-ordered to pay restitution as well as giving up personal property and financial accounts. Apparently, Betty Loren-Maltese was first the town's liquor commissioner for seven years before being given a seat on the Town Board through a "lightening fast backroom deal" in 1993, and then promoted to town president all too quickly. Her late husband, Frank Maltese, had a contributing role in her becoming town president, just before he died of Cancer in 1993.

(Aug 27, News: 1). The year of his death, Frank had been convicted of federal conspiracy charges. When he died, Frank was replaced by John Kociolko as Town Assessor, who was at one point considered a leading contender for Betty's role as town president. In an issue released on September 11th, the public is informed that Ramiro Gonzalez was chosen to replace Loren-Maltese in a Town Board meeting held earlier that week. Gonzalez was a Cicero town trustee and former town special events director. He was appointed to the Town Board by Loren-Maltese in 2000 when he joined her Republican organization.

He was to be the first Hispanic ever to lead Cicero, which is currently 75% Hispanic. In a later September issue, Ramiro Gonzalez stated that he hope Betty Loren-Maltese would help him and give him advice on how to keep the town running smoothly. "In an interview during his first full day in office, Gonzalez echoed the remarks he made after his swearing-in, saying he wants to continue what he views as the successful programs put in place under Loren-Maltese". (Sept. 12, Metro: 1). On October 24th, a lengthy article reports that Loren-Maltese's Wisconsin golf course sold in an auction, held in the course's clubhouse ballroom, for $1.6 million to a trio of Wisconsin investors.

There were 18 parties attempting to outbid each other at the auction. On November 21st, it is reported that Betty's tax-evasion case had ended in a mistrial because of a jury deadlock. There is only a few lines in this article, it is precise and to the point, not offering much information, only that the jury had a difficult time agreeing to an acquittal or conviction. After this first conviction, Loren-Maltese was charged with a single tax count. She is accused of filing a false tax return in 1994. Already facing up to 17 years in prison, Loren-Maltese is now faced with serving more time in a federal prison, leaving her 5 year old daughter behind.

On November 14th, the Chicago Tribune reported that 90 potential jurors were questioned individually and behind closed doors about whether or not they knew of Betty Loren-Maltese and also whether or not they could still be fair if they did know. Loren-Maltese's lawyer had previously requested a change of venue, claiming that too many people knew Betty Loren-Maltese and the possibility of her receiving a fair trial in the same location consequently would be slim to none. He said that even if a juror claimed he or she would be able to put aside the first conviction of Loren-Maltese, it is not humanly possible to completely put out of a person's head a piece of information such as that. He says that would always be on the back of someone's mind and this would be unfair to Loren-Maltese. The coverage on all of these issues is very high-quality. There were rarely any strong opinions of the writers impressed into the articles.

I felt that I was being delivered that facts and that I could draw my own opinions and conclusions. The information was enlightening and helpful to the public mind. Also, I feel knowledgeable about the topics discussed, where as prior to reading these articles I knew nothing. Now, I feel confident I could hold a detailed discussion and identify the meaning. This is the goal and purpose in news reporting. The Chicago Tribune has done a significantly well job on informing the public in a non-biased manor.

Of the many things I have learned, the most noteworthy is to appreciate politics. Before completing this assignment I had a pre-judged notion that politics were useless and not worthy of my time. Politicians were not only boring, I also thought that they were selfish and only into politics to help themselves. In my opinion, one of the most important qualities in a person is their desire to help people. I never saw this in politics until this assignment. Although in my research I found that there are many corrupt politicians, I also saw the rest of the politicians.

The other politicians are the people that are in politics for the right reason, that is to make our lives and our country better. Some of the ways they do this are by adding new laws to protect the people, petitioning to build better schools, building new parks, keeping order and peace, and by raising money to help people and organizations that need it, to name a few. It is obvious that politics are important. Politics are also good if the politicians don't abuse their power.

I've also learned that I need to pay closer attention to politics because it does affect me in several ways. Corruption in politics is a very important issue that more people need to be made aware of and also need to take more seriously.