The Chicago Tribune reports:
Marco Morales was locked in a Mexican jail cell Thursday, facing possible extradition to Chicago nearly a decade after he fled the U.S. to avoid testifying about bribery in Mayor Richard Daley's administration.
His arrest renews questions about what impact his return could have on Chicago's political scene, which has been roiled by the aggressive anti-corruption tactics of U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald.
As reported Thursday at chicagotribune.com, Mexican authorities took Morales into custody Wednesday night, almost a year after federal prosecutors in Chicago indicted the longtime fugitive on a 13-year-old drug-trafficking crime.
Under a 1997 plea bargain deal, that charge was dropped, and Morales agreed to testify against two Daley administration officials, including a high-ranking official in the city's Transportation Department. Morales got rich on city sewer-repair contracts that he is alleged to have won by bribing Daley political operative Anthony Pucillo.
But on Thursday, some federal sources said Morales has been on the lam for so long that his value to prosecutors is uncertain. The statute of limitations could have passed on crimes with which he had knowledge, the sources said.
But if he cooperates, Morales might provide information about wrongdoing that has persisted in his absence as well as about players who might still be in place, the sources said.
Is this story bigger than Norman Hsu? Only time will tell.
John Kass has more on the mysterious Marco Morales:
Morales had a deal with federal prosecutors here in Chicago years ago that he'd testify about bribes he paid to Daley administration officials in exchange for lucrative city contracts. But he changed his mind, ran to Mexico instead, and his son began receiving $40 million in Daley administration contracts. Naturally, the mayor knew nothing about hush money.
Mexican authorities arrested Morales in 2004, but denied extradition on corruption charges. Recently, U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald indicted Morales on drug charges, making extradition easier. It also makes City Hall nauseous.
"I miss Chicago so much," Marco Morales told me in a phone interview last September. "I miss everything about Chicago."
But not enough to come back?
"No," he said then. "I've got issues up there."
The main issue was the Chicago Outfit promising to blow his brains out if he continued talking about bribes he allegedly paid to Tony Pucillo, Daley's former Department of Transportation boss. And about his relationship with Daley insider and trucking boss Michael Tadin.
Pucillo's brother and Tadin were involved in a company that paved the city's streets, in a contract overseen by Tony and supported by Daley.
Back in the day, at Department of Transportation golf outings, Tony, Mike and the mayor would ride in the same golf cart, saying hello to laborers and vendors in the asphalt business. It was Daley's way of advertising that his boys had his blessing.
There's only one Chicago.
