The Most Important Story in Chicago This Week

Is the Segal trial. Or should I say conviction and sentencing.

Is Kass perverted? No. A bit strange, yes.

My fantasies involve Segal sitting fully clothed–in an orange prison jumpsuit before a federal grand jury–spilling his guts about Chicago politicians and the Chicago way.

But the best news is that Segal got the book thrown at him:

Segal, found guilty of racketeering, faces 20 years in prison for dipping into protected insurance trust fund accounts to finance a fancy lifestyle of steaks, hookers, gourmet treats for his dog and other pleasures.

A jury on Tuesday had him forfeit $30 million of his own cash and recommended he also forfeit 60 percent of his company’s assets. He’ll probably lose his Highland Park mansion, surrounded by a sumptuous 17-acre yard. Segal pays a measly $689 a year in property taxes for those 17 prime North Shore acres.

Why is that good? Now the US Attorney has leverage over him and that is key to getting him to open up about his ties to various politicians around town. I haven’t touched much on it to date, but this story should be interesting to watch over the next 6 months and really far more important than Jack! and Jeri.

Does it go all the way up? Probably not, the Daley’s have a knack for not being directly involved, but turning a blind eye to corruption below them. It’ll be embarrassing, but ultimately the Mayor for Life is the Mayor for Life. He may threaten to take his pants down though.

One thought on “The Most Important Story in Chicago This Week”
  1. “Now the US Attorney has leverage over him and that is key to getting him to open up about his ties to various politicians around town.”

    Additional leverage is that, because Segal faces no less than 20 years, he won’t be elligible for Club Fed white-collar imprisonment like Rosty and Fawell got.

    As Lynn Sweet said on WBEZ/848 this morning, if Seagal doesn’t make a deal he will serve “big-boy time.”

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