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

Gubernatorial candidate calls for reason, peace outside Illinois ICE facility

Gubernatorial candidate calls for reason, peace outside Illinois ICE facility

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski says repealing the TRUST Act to end the state’s sanctuary status is...
Report: Soros foundation gave $80M to groups tied to 'extremist violence'

Report: Soros foundation gave $80M to groups tied to ‘extremist violence’

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Amid President Donald Trump officially designating Antifa a domestic terror organization, a new report details how a prominent billionaire may be funneling millions to extremist...
Colorado economists warn of potential recession, cite tariffs

Colorado economists warn of potential recession, cite tariffs

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado is now expected to be nearly $100 million short of the statutory reserve requirement for fiscal year 2024-2025, according to state economists. This comes...
Colombian President calls for criminal charges against Trump over boat strikes

Colombian President calls for criminal charges against Trump over boat strikes

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for a criminal investigation into President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials after three deadly military strikes on suspected drug...
More than 2 million deportations, self-removals in less than 250 days

More than 2 million deportations, self-removals in less than 250 days

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square More than two million illegal foreign nationals have been removed or have self-deported since January 20, the Department of Homeland Security says. This includes an...
Illinois quick hits: Officer charged in straw gun case

Illinois quick hits: Officer charged in straw gun case

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Officer charged in straw gun case A Chicago police officer faces charges for making gun purchases on behalf of someone else transporting them to...
WATCH: Pritzker looks for 4% ‘efficiencies’ after increasing spending 43% since 2019

WATCH: Pritzker looks for 4% ‘efficiencies’ after increasing spending 43% since 2019

By Greg Bishop and Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is looking for 4% "efficiencies" after increasing spending by 43% since...
Lawmakers introduce new visa program legislation

Lawmakers introduce new visa program legislation

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation proposing a new visa program in the United States. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Penn., introduced the Essential Workers...
Lawmakers to vote on bill forcing release of Epstein files

Lawmakers to vote on bill forcing release of Epstein files

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As soon as late October, the U.S. Department of Justice may be compelled to release all its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein if...
Adelita Grijalva wins congressional seat in Arizona

Adelita Grijalva wins congressional seat in Arizona

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Early results show Adelita Grijalva as the winner of the special election in Arizona Congressional District 7, with nearly 70% of the vote.The daughter of...
Authorities say shooting at Dallas ICE facility was 'targeted' attack

Authorities say shooting at Dallas ICE facility was ‘targeted’ attack

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Multiple people have been shot at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, Texas, including two fatalities, in what law enforcement officials are describing...
Amid Dallas shooting, assaults on ICE up 1,000%

Amid Dallas shooting, assaults on ICE up 1,000%

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Wednesday’s shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas comes as assaults against ICE officers are up more than 1,000% compared to...
IL bans PFAS in firefighter gear by 2027, raising safety, market questions

IL bans PFAS in firefighter gear by 2027, raising safety, market questions

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois firefighters will soon be wearing protective gear free of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” under a...
WATCH: Pritzker blames Trump for budget cut EO; Chicago public safety on Trump’s mind

WATCH: Pritzker blames Trump for budget cut EO; Chicago public safety on Trump’s mind

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares reaction from...
Cato scholar calls Trump's Antifa executive order 'idiotic'

Cato scholar calls Trump’s Antifa executive order ‘idiotic’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A top Cato scholar said President Donald Trump's move to designate Antifa a domestic terror organization was "idiotic." Patrick Eddington, a senior fellow in homeland...