Ex-police chief convicted of racketeering in Chicago Mob Linked Suburb

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Former Melrose Park Police Chief Vito Scavo was convicted today at his racketeering and extortion trial by a federal jury that deliberated for just a few hours following a seven-week trial.

Scavo had been accused of forcing bars and restaurants -- and even the Kiddieland amusement park -- into hiring private guards from his security firm. Some of those guards were on-duty police officers who were essentially paid twice, prosecutors alleged.

He faces up to 20 years in prison on the racketeering count alone.

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