A federal judge has sentenced a Chicago alderman's former chief of staff to 15 months in prison for accepting a $7,500 bribe concealed in a Christmas card.
Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan said at Curtis Thompson Jr.'s sentencing Wednesday that Chicago officials had "time and time again, demonstrated their greed." A government sentencing memo said Chicago had "one more reason to doubt its leaders."
The 63-year-old Thompson accepted 75 $100 bills from a cooperating witness at a 2013 Christmas party. In exchange, Thompson helped secure a letter from his boss supporting a liquor license.
Thompson pleaded guilty in a plea agreement that recommended a 12- to 18-month sentence.
Filings don't name the alderman, but Alderman Howard Brookins previously confirmed Thompson was his chief of staff. Brookins isn't accused of wrongdoing.
