U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Northern District of Illinois
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Patrick J. Fitzgerald
Federal Building
United States Attorney
219 South Dearborn Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 353-5300
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACTS:
THURSDAY MAY 28, 2009
AUSA Brandon Fox
(312) 353-5277
www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln
Randall Samborn
(312) 353-5318
CHICAGO ALD. ISAAC “IKE” CAROTHERS AND GALEWOOD YARDS
DEVELOPER INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES ALLEGING BRIBERY AND
CORRUPTION IN RE-ZONING OF 50-ACRE WEST SIDE INDUSTRIAL SITE
CHICAGO – Chicago Ald. Isaac S. Carothers (29th Ward) and a real estate developer who
sought to transform a 50-acre former rail yard and industrial site on the city’s west side into a
residential and commercial neighborhood, were indicted today on federal fraud and bribery charges,
announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The
developer, Calvin Boender, allegedly paid for approximately $40,000 in home improvements to
Carothers’ residence and provided him with meals and tickets to professional sporting events, which
Carothers allegedly illegally accepted, in exchange for Carothers’ official acts supporting successful
zoning changes for Galewood Yards, which was the largest undeveloped tract of land within the city
limits. Approximately $6 million more was made from the sale of 25 acres of the land than would
have been realized without the zoning changes, and Boender allegedly personally profited half of that
amount, or approximately $3 million, according to an 11-count indictment returned by a federal grand
jury today.
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Carothers, 54, also known as “Ike,” who was first elected alderman of the city’s 29th Ward
on the far west side in 1999, and Boender, 54, both of Chicago, will be arraigned at a later date in
U.S. District Court.
Carothers, chairman of the City Council Police and Fire Committee and a member of the
Committees on Committees, Rules and Ethic