Emanuel's Former Comptroller Indicted On Corruption Charges In Ohio
By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 16, 2013 4:40PM
Amer Ahmad
Ahmad faces eight counts of bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to launder money and making false statements to officials during his time as a deputy treasurer in Ohio. Prosecutors allege Ashamed participated in a $500,000 kickback scheme involving state investment business.
The indictment claims Ahmad steered state investment business to Douglas E. Hampton, a broker and friend of Ahmad whose firm earned $3.2 million in commissions on trades on behalf of the Ohio treasurer’s office. $400,000 was allegedly laundered through a landscaping business owned by Ahmad and Chicagoan Joseph Chiavaroli. Another $123,000 was earmarked as legal fees to lobbyist and lawyer Mohammed Noure Alo, a “close personal friend and business associate” of Ahmad. Prosecutors contend the scheme ran from January 2009 through January 2011, months before Emanuel named Ahmad as his comptroller, in charge of revenue collections for the city and a key budget adviser to the mayor.
When Ahmad tendered his resignation July 23 he said he wanted to return to the private sector. Emanuel spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton told Crain’s Chicago Business’ Greg Hinz they only discovered of Ahmad’s legal troubles “through the newspaper.” Hamilton told the Tribune, “We have no reason to believe and have no knowledge of any such wrongdoing during his tenure in Chicago. But we will take any action that is needed — including conducting a review of Finance Department activities over the last two years — to ensure that Chicago taxpayers are protected.”
Emanuel praised Ahmad as a reformer in a statement announcing the resignation.
"Amer has played an integral role in my efforts to reform government, strengthen the city's finances and professionalize our approach to fiscal management. While we are sad to see him leave our team, I thank Amer for his service to Chicago and wish him the best as he returns to the private sector."