Jailed (former IL Gov) Ryan aide indicted in bid-rigging | Chicago Tribune

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Jailed Ryan aide indicted in bid-rigging
Feds allege kickbacks in McCormick Place contract

By Matt O'Connor
Tribune staff reporter
Published February 10, 2004, 3:30 PM CST

Former Gov. George Ryan's handpicked man to run McCormick Place as well as one of the state's most powerful lobbying firms were indicted today on charges of providing inside bid information to an engineering company in return for kickbacks.

The scheme enabled the bidder to win an $11.5 million construction management contract in 2001 for an $800 million expansion of the lakefront exposition complex, according to U.S. Atty. Patrick J. Fitzgerald.

"I note that it's a striking development to take a contracting process and trace through illegal conduct from inside McPier, through a lobbying firm, to a company that made a bid based upon the inside information," Fitzgerald said at an afternoon news conference in Chicago to announce the indictment.

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