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

Judge calls for SCOTUS ‘benchslaps’ on Second Amendment cases

Judge calls for SCOTUS ‘benchslaps’ on Second Amendment cases

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) - A conservative federal appeals court judge has teed off once again on his left-wing judicial colleagues on the U.S....

WATCH: Washington candidates clash over Trump endorsement for House

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square As Central Washington voters begin filling out primary ballots as soon as this weekend, some may be a bit confused about who President Donald Trump...
Congressional candidates debate housing, immigration

Congressional candidates debate housing, immigration

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters in Arizona will head to the polls Tuesday to make decisions in consequential congressional primaries that could determine the balance of power in Congress...
ICE Rio Grande Valley agents arrest 228 in single day without incident

ICE Rio Grande Valley agents arrest 228 in single day without incident

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers working with law enforcement through its 287(g) program made the largest single day arrest of 228 people in the...
$95B price tag of Republican budget resolution questioned

$95B price tag of Republican budget resolution questioned

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. House Republicans forged ahead Thursday with the blueprint for their third budget reconciliation bill, sending a $95 billion budget resolution to the floor for...
Back from leave, Leavitt touts economy, Trump accounts and border

Back from leave, Leavitt touts economy, Trump accounts and border

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s opening remarks to reporters at her first press briefing back from maternity leave focused on the economy, Trump accounts...
Med school dean questioned over antisemitism, DEI

Med school dean questioned over antisemitism, DEI

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Squarre) – The interim dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine testified before Congress that the school...
Probe of Mamdani, possible Iran negotiation violation sought

Probe of Mamdani, possible Iran negotiation violation sought

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Investigating the mayor of New York City and a member of his administration following a meeting with an ambassador from the Islamic Republic of Iran...
As a Trump tariff expires, a new one takes its place

As a Trump tariff expires, a new one takes its place

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A federal tariff struck down by a U.S. trade court is set to expire on its own terms July 24, even as the Trump administration...
Leavitt: Trump’s primetime speech will 'shock' listeners about American election integrity

Leavitt: Trump’s primetime speech will ‘shock’ listeners about American election integrity

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump is set to address the nation Thursday night in a speech the White House is encouraging Americans to watch that will include...
Antifa the focus at Rubio-hosted international summit

Antifa the focus at Rubio-hosted international summit

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted what he described as the growing threat of left-wing terrorism Thursday at a ministerial he convened at the State...
Illinois Quick Hits: Unemployment holds at 5.1% in Illinois

Illinois Quick Hits: Unemployment holds at 5.1% in Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Illinois Department of Employment Security says...
Thune handed $47B national security bill with poison pill

Thune handed $47B national security bill with poison pill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A $47.3 billion government funding bill has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives and arrives at the Senate facing a hostile reception from Democrats. The...
Ammons pleads not guilty, wants to delay House investigation

Ammons pleads not guilty, wants to delay House investigation

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) — Illinois State Rep. Carrol Ammons, federally indicted on multiple charges of wire fraud, pleaded not guilty in...
Minnesota extends Medicaid provider pause as fraud concerns reach U.S. Senate

Minnesota extends Medicaid provider pause as fraud concerns reach U.S. Senate

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota is extending its pause on enrolling new providers in 12 high-risk Medicaid services as the state continues efforts to crack down on fraud in...