Former Ald. Medrano, Former Commissioner Moreno Indicted On Corruption Charges

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 28, 2012 9:30PM

Former Ald. Ambrosio Medrano (left), and former Cook County Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That fits when it comes to corruption in Chicago politics. Former 25th Ward Ald. Ambrosio Medrano and former Cook County Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno were indicted Thursday afternoon on bribery charges. Ubi est mea, indeed.

Moreno is accused of taking a $5,000 bribe to ensure the development of a waste transfer station in Cicero. Moreno at the time was on the town's economic development panel. Medrano and two businessmen are charged with accepting kickbacks in exchange for business deals from out-of-state hospital systems. Medrano is also accused of offering a bribe to an undercover informant who was working in his organization as a staff member.

This isn't Medrano's first rodeo when it comes to bribery. He was the first alderman charged in Operation Silver Shovel and served 2-1/2 years in prison in the mid-90s for accepting $31,000 in bribes. After prison he tried to re-enter politics and reclaim his seat from the current 25th Ward alderman, Danny Solis. But the Illinois Supreme Court ruled him ineligible in 2007.

Moreno was first elected to the Cook County Board, representing the 7th District, in 1991 and served until he was voted out in 2010. Medrano joined Moreno's staff after his attempts at running for office again were quashed.