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

Pritzker, Benton’s GOP challenger weigh in calls for resignation

Pritzker, Benton’s GOP challenger weigh in calls for resignation

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Less than a day after top Democrats in Springfield called on an embattled state lawmaker to resign,...
Fireworks buyers flock to neighboring states

Fireworks buyers flock to neighboring states

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois consumers are flocking to neighboring states to buy fireworks as the United States celebrates 250 years...
Fireworks buyers flock to neighboring states

Fireworks buyers flock to neighboring states

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois consumers are flocking to neighboring states to buy fireworks as the United States celebrates 250 years...
Trump calls out NATO nations for their spending

Trump calls out NATO nations for their spending

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey, President Donald Trump is calling out several NATO partners for their spending. The president is set to attend...
Pritzker declares 11 county disaster over storms; state wants federal aid

Pritzker declares 11 county disaster over storms; state wants federal aid

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster declaration late Tuesday covering 11 counties across the state that...
GAO: Additional actions needed to secure northern border

GAO: Additional actions needed to secure northern border

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square At a recent Congressional hearing, Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas,...
U.S. adds 57K jobs in 'disappointing' June report

U.S. adds 57K jobs in ‘disappointing’ June report

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, reflecting a steady job market, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics...
State lawmaker accused of sexual harassment asked to resign or be ousted

State lawmaker accused of sexual harassment asked to resign or be ousted

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state lawmaker has been asked to resign by Democrat leadership after allegations of his sexual...
Illinois Quick Hits: 178 Illinois tornadoes so far in 2026

Illinois Quick Hits: 178 Illinois tornadoes so far in 2026

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to preliminary quality controlled data from the National Weather Service, Illinois has had more than twice...
Beecher Graphic.1

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Beecher Village Board for June 22, 2026

Beecher Village Board Meeting | June 22, 2026 The Beecher Village Board moved through a full slate of zoning, finance, public works and community-event items at its Monday, June 22,...
Beecher Elementary school Graphic

Beecher Board OKs Maintenance Contract, Aide Hire, Four Resignations

Beecher 200-U Board of Education Meeting | June 10, 2026 Article Summary: The Beecher 200-U board approved a contract for its maintenance director and a new elementary aide while acknowledging...
Op-Ed: The Declaration is a gift. But to keep it, we must earn it

Op-Ed: The Declaration is a gift. But to keep it, we must earn it

By Jay Lapeyre | Free Society CoalitionThe Center Square As Americans prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, there will be no shortage of fireworks, parades, speeches and reflections on...
Justice Department sues California, Virginia over new gun laws

Justice Department sues California, Virginia over new gun laws

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. Justice Department sued California and Virginia Wednesday over new gun laws that went into effect the same day. Both states used their Democratic...
Republican revolt against Johnson halts business in U.S. House

Republican revolt against Johnson halts business in U.S. House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. House lawmakers have left town early for the July 4th holiday after legislative business in the chamber ground to a halt, the second time...
Trump administration, GOP seek workarounds to tackle birthright citizenship

Trump administration, GOP seek workarounds to tackle birthright citizenship

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold birthright citizenship, Republicans and the Trump administration are seeking ways to curb babies born in...