Al Sanchez Convicted of Fraud. Again.

By Kevin Robinson in News on Jul 22, 2010 2:20PM

The recent Supreme Court ruling limiting the use of Honest Services fraud in corruption trials has meant that a slew of convictions have had to be re-examined by lower courts (like Conrad Black). Among those cases was former Streets and Sanitation Commissioner and Hispanic Democratic Organization Chief Al Sanchez's conviction last year.

Sanchez was convicted of four counts of mail fraud last year for his role in politically motivated hiring in the streets and sanitation department. But the Supreme Court ruling meant that Sanchez got his day in court again. And that day in court led to a conviction. Again. Sanchez faced a two-week retrial after the Court of Appeals threw out his earlier conviction. Co-conspirator Aaron DelValle (who ran as a stalking horse against 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis in 2007 in what was largely seen as an HDO vendetta against the alderman), also initially convicted of perjury in the first trial, also participated in the retrial.

After four hours of deliberation, jurors convicted Sanchez of one count of mail fraud and DelValle of perjury. Sanchez faces up to 20 years in prison while DelValle is facing up to five.