Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Chicago Bagman Who Helped DOJ in Red Light Camera Case Gets 6 Months

posted by cmn32480 on Wednesday September 14 2016, @06:04PM   Printer-friendly
from the follow-the-money dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

The Chicago man who served as a go-between for a local transportation official and a major red light camera company, Redflex, was sentenced Monday to six months in federal prison.

In 2014, Martin O'Malley was the first to plead guilty in the trio of criminal cases involving Redflex. (This Martin O'Malley should not be confused with the former governor of Maryland and Democratic presidential candidate.)

O'Malley was paid $2 million for his services, which was more than anyone on Redflex's official payroll. But according to prosecutors, much of that money was funneled to John Bills, a former managing deputy commissioner at the Department of Transportation and a longtime friend of O'Malley's.

Bills helped steer the City of Chicago to do business with Redflex. Chicago was at one time the company's largest deal worldwide. Since losing the Chicago contract as a result of this corruption scandal, Redflex's 2013 pre-tax profits in its North American division (its corporate parent is an Australian company) plummeted more than 33 percent—from $3.4 million in the first half of 2013 to $2.28 million in the second half.

Pity for O'Malley that the "extremely careless" defense had not yet been invented.

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Chicago Bagman Who Helped DOJ in Red Light Camera Case Gets 6 Months | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 25 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday September 14 2016, @08:11PM

    by LoRdTAW (3755) on Wednesday September 14 2016, @08:11PM (#401992) Journal

    What is the difference between US red light cameras and the ones we have in the UK?

    Nothing I'm sure.

    Yours seem to have all sorts of troubles and people against them.

    The trouble is they exist.

    Is it something to do with US car design?

    Don't be silly.

    Or is it that you simply set the amber times too short?

    "You" as in "we" don't set anything. The cameras are not government operated or owned. They are contracted to private contractors who get a cut of the "proceeds". They have been caught manipulating amber lights and positioning speed traps near exit ramps and roads where the speeds suddenly change and extort money from motorists. The local government who hires them doesn't seem to care as a) they don't want that responsibility and b) just want more money.

    Is it that protectionist laws mean you buy inferior technology that isn't reliable as that in Europe?

    Now that is just plain stupid.

    Or is it just an objection on principle to fine people going through red lights?

    Red light and speed cameras don't really do much to stop auto collisions. They just make money. And there are plenty of examples where such traps were rigged to catch motorists off guard and basically extort money from them. It's a scam.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   2