Former Todd Stroger Aide Guilty Of Theft, Money Laundering

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 28, 2013 10:00PM

Carla Oglesby, who once was former Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s deputy chief of staff, was found guilty Wednesday of money laundering and theft charges.

Oglesby was arrested in October 2010 and accused of awarding no-bid contracts to her privately-owned public-relations firm and friends, defrauding Cook County of $300,000 with contracts awarded at a dollar threshold just low enough to avoid county board approval. Judge James Linn called the process “eye popping, disheartening and shocking.”

Oglesby’s attorney, Anthony Schumann, contended his client worked on the scam with Stroger pal Eugene Mullins and that Mullins dealt with the vendors directly. Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Podlasek argued Oglesby was the “heart” of the operation. (Mullins was later indicted in federal court on a kickback scheme. His case goes to trial next month.)

“Make no mistake Carla Oglesby came to the county to take as much money [as she could] for herself,” Podlasek said.

Schumann said last week Oglesby was prepared to take the stand in her own defense, but she eventually didn’t. She faces six to 30 years in prison.