A newly unsealed indictment says an ex-Chicago alderman nicknamed "Fast Eddie" for his adeptness at backroom dealing, was offered millions in legal fees from a tobacco settlement even though he did no legal work. The filing in Chicago federal court charges Edward Vrdolyak with violating federal tax law.
The indictment says one lawyer referred to as "Individual B" agreed to pay Vrdolyak $65 million from fees paid to private law firms that aided Illinois during the tobacco litigation. It doesn't say what Vrdolyak might have actually received.
Vrdolyak's attorney, Michael Monico, says the 78-year-old would fight the charges. He called the indictment "confusing" and "disappointing." Monico says any payments made to Vrdolyak were "referral fees" and legal under Illinois law.
The case was opened last year indicting someone else. A superseding indictment this month also names Vrdolyak. Vrdolyak spent 10 months in prison in 2011 in a real estate kickback scheme.
