Illinois Sweepstakes Magnate Serves 5 ½ Years Imprisonment for Bribing Legislators
In a shocking turn of events, a Chicago-based business owner, James T. Weiss, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his involvement in a bribery scandal that rocked Illinois politics.
The scandal, which came to light in June 2019, involved Weiss attempting to bribe two state lawmakers, State Rep. Luis Arroyo (D) and State Senator Terry Link (D), in a bid to support legislation to legalize sweepstakes machines in Illinois.
According to reports by The Chicago Sun-Times and The Chicago Tribune, Judge Steven Seeger, who presided over Weiss' sentencing, rebuked him for trying to bribe both the House and the Senate. Seeger also criticized Weiss for solidifying the city of Chicago as the capital of corruption.
The secret recordings made during the bribery scheme revealed that Link, who was prepared to secretly record the corruption, is heard asking, "What's in it for me?" to which Arroyo responded by handing him a check for $2,500. Arroyo had promised similar monthly payments to Link if he agreed to back the proposed legislation.
In a twist of fate, unbeknownst to Arroyo, Link had been nabbed by the FBI for tax evasion and was preparing to expose the corruption. Weiss was also interviewed by the FBI in October 2019 and told them lies, according to prosecutors, including that he knew and had spoken to someone named "Katherine Hunter." However, it was later revealed that "Katherine Hunter" didn't exist, as federal agents had instructed Link to make the checks out in her name.
Arroyo's downfall came in June 2019 when he attempted to recruit Link into the scheme. This led to his arrest and eventual guilty plea to charges related to the bribery scandal. In June 2022, Arroyo was sentenced to five years in prison for accepting $32.5K in bribes from the business owner.
Terry Link, a star witness for the prosecution, is still awaiting sentencing after being convicted of tax evasion in 2020. His exact involvement in bribery cases varies depending on reported details.
It is important to note that Luis Arroyo's bribery case specifically involved him accepting money to push for legislative appropriations benefiting a nursing home owner, while Terry Link has been linked by association to corruption probes involving other Illinois politicians. For detailed, verified updates on these individuals or this scandal, checking Illinois court records, local news archives, or dedicated corruption investigative reports would be necessary.
Judge Steven Seeger, during Weiss' sentencing, bemoaned the corruption prevalent in Chicago politics and referred to Weiss' actions as adding another star to Chicago's walk of shame on the sidewalk of corruption. This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity and accountability in public office.
- The sentence for businessman James T. Weiss, embroiled in a bribery scandal involving State Rep. Luis Arroyo and State Senator Terry Link, was ruled at five and a half years in prison.
- Luis Arroyo, who was arrested in 2019 for his role in the bribery scandal centered around casino-games legislation, was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2022.
- Casino-personalities Terry Link and James Weiss found themselves engulfed in a broader casino-culture scandal, with allegations of bribery and corruption dominating general-news headlines.
- In June 2019, Luis Arroyo attempted to bribe Terry Link to support legislation for casino-gaming, with the FBI uncovering a bribery scheme that rocked Chicago politics.
- The bribery case surrounding casino-gambling legislation led to the downfall of Luis Arroyo, linking him to crime-and-justice (repercussions involving illegal activities and the judicial system), while Terry Link's exact role continues to be a topic of discussion and investigation.
