Businessman Charged With Bribing Chicago Alderman

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

A Naperville businessman was charged in federal court today with offering a $100,000 bribe to a Chicago alderman in an effort to land concession contracts at O’Hare and Midway airports.

Wafeek Aiyash, 50, of Naperville is accused of passing bribes in the amounts of $5,000 and $10,0000 at a time, in an attempt at winning the contracts.


A criminal complaint filed in federal court reveals the FBI has used an unnamed cooperator in its investigation for at least a year.

The Chicago Sun-Times has learned that the cooperator is Ald. Isaac “Ike” Carothers — who was charged earlier this year with corruption. Carothers is one of 14 members of the City Council’s Aviation Committee.

For a look at Alderman Carothers contributions from Tony Rezko.