John Hooker, a previous lobbyist for Commonwealth Edison, has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars, due to his involvement in complex corruption tactics devised to divert $1.3 million towards allies of former House Speaker, Michael Madigan. This was an attempt to secure Madigan’s influential sway benefiting the utilities company’s legal activities in Springfield. In making his judgment, U.S. District Court Judge, Manish Shah emphasized the importance of not underestimating the seriousness of Hooker’s deeds, clarifying that they exceeded standard lobbying activities.
The Judge iterated the necessity to dispel any existing impression implying that Hooker’s deeds were simply a normal part of lobbying a public official. Shah made a point to underline that it’s imperative to consider the enormity of the corrupt actions that fundamentally tainted public policy, crucial to far-reaching legislation and legislative processes. In his final statement to Hooker, Shah reiterated that Hooker could have chosen not to participate or completely end the illegal activities.
Hooker, now 76, is the first among the notorious group of four ComEd defendants to receive a sentence. This judgement comes two years after their highly publicized trial liquidated in a profound guilty verdict for all four. The other members of the ComEd Four, namely former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and Madigan’s principal aide, Michael McClain, are due for their sentencing hearings in the week following Hooker’s sentencing.
The final part of the quartet, Consultant and former head of the City Club of Chicago, Jay Doherty, has his sentencing scheduled for August. Concurrently, Madigan was found guilty in a separate trial for multiple illegal schemes, inclusive of the ComEd bribery kickbacks. Consequently, he received a sentence of 7.5 years imprisonment last month.
The federal prosecution team had requested a near five-year imprisonment term for Hooker. In contrast, his counsel suggested a probation period of a year, arguing their case on the grounds of Hooker’s age, his clean criminal record prior to this incidence, and their assessment that he posed no risk of reoffending.
As part of the charges against him, prosecutors asserted ComEd’s involvement in more illegitimate activities, in addition to the Madigan-related bribes. As per the allegations, ComEd employed a well-known law firm managed by Victor Reyes, a prominent political operative. The company also facilitated numerous internships in Madigan’s district and supported the nomination of former McPier boss Juan Ochoa for a position on their board of directors. Ochoa, a friend of a Madigan associate, received an $80,000 a year stipend for his board position.
In response to ComEd’s gestures, Madigan allegedly exploited his governmental power to assist the utility company in securing substantial legislative successes. These achievements not only provided a financial lifeline for ComEd but also catapulted the company to generate unprecedented, billion-dollar profits.
Among the success stories was the implementation of the 2011 Smart Grid Bill that prescribed a standardized formula for ComEd’s customer charges; thereby evading direct confrontations with the Illinois Commerce Commission. This represents one of the critical legislative victories that Madigan allegedly facilitated on ComEd’s behalf.
Furthermore, ComEd sought the help of Madigan’s office to pass the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016 which continued the predetermined rate structure and revitalized two of its nuclear plants. These plants were managed by Exelon Generation, a subsidiary of the same parent corporation.
During the trial, defense lawyers vehemently objected that the prosecution team strived to label standard lobbying actions and job referrals that belong to the state’s genuine political structure as unlawful. They indeed criticized the government’s main witness, Fidel Marquez who is a former ComEd executive, accusing him of deceit and personal opportunism.
Defense lawyers presented the case that Marquez, distraught and panicked by an unexpected visit from FBI agents in early 2019, turned witness against his former colleagues without legal consultation. Moreover, they claimed that he agreed to secretly record his associates for the FBI.
In his March 2023 testimony, Marquez asserted that ComEd’s ‘subcontractor’ list – who were paid handsomely – was crafted with McClain and resembled a veritable list of Madigan’s political operation ‘nobility’. This list contained prominent precinct captains and two previous assistant majority leaders of the house, all centered around Madigan’s Southwest Side stronghold.
This ‘subcontractor’ roster was paid an exorbitant sum by ComEd over eight years, despite no evidence of special expertise or noticeable work being accomplished for the utility company from these hires. Marquez also testified that some ‘subcontractors’ appeared to be extremely unskilled, as per his examination, delivering an unfavorable impression to the jury.