Punish Corruption Like A Street Crime

An Illinois federal judge fed up with the rampant corruption in his state, has issued strongly-worded decisions in two separate cases detailing the need to punish public officials for corruption.

U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo called for crooked public officials to face the same prison time as street criminals and said the only way to protect the public from the ongoing problem of public corruption and to promote respect for the rule of law is to impose strict penalties on all defendants who engage in such conduct.

The judge first lashed out against corrupt public officials in a decision a few weeks ago regarding the appeal of three defendants–former Public Safety Director Emil Schullo and reputed mobsters Michael Spano, Sr. and James Inendino–convicted of fleecing the town of Cicero of $76,000.

This week, Judge Castillo reiterated his stance in the case of a former Aurora city councilman and alderman who admitted taking thousands of dollars in bribes in return for his support of a developer’s projects.