Results tagged “martinmcdonagh”

Big Blue TruckAngelo Torres, one-time head of Chicago's Hired Truck program, pled guilty to extortion, conspiracy and other charges in federal court today. Torres admitted that he had been taking bribes of between $200-$300 from trucking companies to keep them in the lucrative $37 million city program. During his plea Torres "made it plain" that he was not willing to cooperate with federal investigators, who have indicted twenty-three people in charges related to Hired Truck.

Martin McDonagh, a 38-year-old Irish immigrant, was so nervous when he entered his guilty plea in federal court yesterday, that he couldn't remember his own age. As the Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune reports today, out of the 27 people indicted, McDonagh is the first plea in the investigation, although attorneys for Angelo Torres, the one-time Hired Truck operator, announced that he intends to plea guilty.

Last week, John "Quarters" Boyle was arrested on federal charges for taking bribes from companies to stay in the city's Hired Truck program. Prosecutors say he took cash, steaks, Marshall Field's gift certificates, and contributions to his favorite politicians. In 1992, Boyle was convicted stealing $4 million coins from IL Toll Highway Authority, hence his nickname.. Quick, someone, how much does $4 million in coins weigh!?! A few thousand pounds? Mayor Daley says it's common for the city to hire ex-convicts to give them a second chance but he says he embarassed by the latest scandal to his his administration.

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