Former Ald. Ed Burke reports to Illinois prison

CHICAGO — Chicago’s longest-serving alderman reported to federal prison on Monday.

Former Ald. Ed Burke faces a two-year sentence and a $2 million fine. Last year, he was convicted of corruption for using his position to benefit his law firm.

On Monday afternoon, the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed to WGN News that Burke is in custody at the Federal Correctional Institution Thomson in Thomson, Illinois. The low-security prison is home to nearly 2,000 inmates and just over 100 inmates in an adjoining camp.

Alongside his prison sentence, Burke will also face one year of supervised release.

Prosecutors alleged Burke tried to pressure the owners of a Burger King in his ward to hire his firm in exchange for construction permits they needed to renovate the restaurant.

Prosecutors claimed Burke also shook down developers renovating the Old Post Office.

More than 100 secret recordings discussing the schemes were at the center of the government’s case, captured by ex-alderman turned FBI mole Daniel Solis .

Politico reports that the 80-year-old with good behavior could be out in 20 months.

University of Chicago Illinois professor Dick Simpson, who has written extensively on the subject of political corruption, said Burke is the 40th Chicago alderman to go to federal prison since 1972.

“I’ve known Eddy Burke since we first served in the City Council in 1971, 50 years ago,” Simpson, who once served as a city alderman, said as he recalled the aspirations of a younger Burke.

“It’s something like a Greek or Shakespearian tragedy in a way because he was young, ambitious, and meant to do well,” Simpson added. “As he got more hubris, more ambition, more greed, and more clout over the years, he went astray and has been convicted on 13 counts of corruption.”

Simpson said he believed Burke’s time in prison would not be without tribulation.

“Prison will be hard for Alderman Burke,” he said. “He is 80 years old. He will have a hard time adjusting to the life. It’s not an easy life.

“He was hoping his legacy would be the longest-serving aldermen. Instead, his legacy will be as one of the corrupt members of the City Council.”

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