Friday, August 15, 2014

HOT Former Red Light Camera CEO Indicted

Justice doesn't occur often in the world of crony capitalism, but it looks like some serious bastards are getting nailed this time. And I am talking a seriously evil bunch. A bunch who were crony in the worst way, by helping the state collect additional revenue against the rest of us through intrusive, oppressive red light cameras.

A federal indictment has come down against the former Redflex Traffic Systems CEO on charges she and a top City Hall manager conspired to rig the camera business for a decade (Chicago Tribune).

Karen Finley, the former CEO, has been indicted along with former city official John Bills and a longtime Bills friend accused of being the bagman in a $2 million bribery scheme that ran from 2002 until 2012, reports CT.

More from CT:
The Chicago program grew into a marquee system for Redflex — the largest in the United States — and generated nearly $500 million in $100 tickets for the cash-starved city. 
Finley, 54, of Cave Creek, Ariz., was indicted on nine counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, three counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Bills, 53, of Chicago, who was first charged with bribery in May, was indicted on nine counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, three counts of bribery, three counts of filing a false income tax return, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

Bills' longtime friend Martin O'Malley, 73, who was hired by Redflex as a Chicago consultant, was also indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Prosecutors said he served as the conduit for about $2 million in Redflex payments, much of it intended for Bills.

They should each get a year for each and every red light camera installed during the period of their crony dealings.

-RW



4 comments:

  1. The issues with how Redflex does business were known before the Chicago contract, but like the RLC scam itself anyone who pointed it out at the time was just a kook as usual. So I wonder why Redflex, why now? My guess is that it has to do with industry infighting. Chicago is the gem of the RLC "industry". Bumping off redflex with a scandal just before the Chicago contract went to bid makes sense. The government carrying it this far still seems remarkable, but knocking out Redflex could be very profitable for the remaining players.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Martin O"Malley, as in, Baltimore scumbag Martin O'Malley?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Some day I'll tell you about ATS, a company that plays the red light camera game in Missouri among other states. Unbelievable tactics. Also suit happy so I'll hold off for now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ATS even sued Redflex. And yes ATS is also known for their business practices.

      Delete