Arenda Troutman
Encyclopedia
Arenda Troutman was the Democratic alderman
of the 20th ward in Chicago
. She was appointed to her position by Mayor Richard M. Daley
in 1990, to fill a vacancy after the death of alderman Ernest Jones. Troutman was the 16th woman to serve as a Chicago alderman. Despite her arrest and indictment on bribery charges, Troutman was a candidate in the February 27, 2007, election. She was defeated by Willie B. Cochran, a former police sergeant and laundry owner.
On August 6, 2008, Troutman pleaded guilty to two federal counts, including admitting to taking bribes as an alderman. She was sentenced to four years in prison on February 17, 2009, and ordered to begin serving the sentence June 1, 2009.
. After graduating she became a supervisor in the Office of Secretary of State. In 1978, she was arrested for shop lifting. Information about the arrest was made public by her opponents. Troutman is the mother of three young sons.
. She was chairman of the Historical Landmark Preservation Committee, and co-chair of Housing and Real Estate. Additionally she served on the Budget and Government Operations; Buildings; Committees, Rules and Ethics; Education; Police and Fire; Zoning; and Finance Committees.
In 2006, Troutman was active in fundraising for Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and in 2002 was a campaign advisor for Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards
.
Troutman had also come under scrutiny on numerous occasions for ethical lapses in her career as alderman. In 2004, it was revealed she may have been dating Donnell "Scandalous" Jehan, the #2 leader of the Black Disciples street gang, who had fled the FBI after being indicated in a $350,000+/week drug operation in Troutman's ward. Jehan had been seen driving Troutman's car. A letter from Chicago Police Patrol Chief James Maurer to Troutman on police letterhead was found in the FBI raid on Jehan's home. Troutman commented that she thought he was "a businessman" and that she let "everybody" drive her car.
Around the time her relationship with Jehan ended, Troutman reported several break-ins at her home and requested 24 hour police presence. This action was noticed by several firearms advocacy groups including the Second Amendment Foundation. and the web site Women & Guns.
The Chicago Sun Times reported that Troutman had helped start a Hired Truck Company for her family to own and profit from. The Hired Truck Program was credited with being the scandal that opened the doors for current federal investigations into City hiring, a part of which led to the recent conviction of Patronage Chief Robert Sorich. Troutman's family business reportedly earned $1.1 million from the program.
The developer (Andre P. Johnson, known in the FBI case as cooperating witness-2) has two felony convictions and has been sued on multiple occasions for mortgage fraud and identity theft. The FBI claimed to have been unaware of Johnson's criminal background until it was informed by a reporter from the Chicago Tribune.
Other details of the FBI's case and process raised questions. The property involved in the sting is not part of Troutman's ward. The property in question is on the boundary between the 20th (Troutman's) and the 16th Wards. The distinction placed a limit on the amount of influence that Troutman could have had in any zoning changes. In addition to the property's location being outside of her Ward, Troutman also discovered the zoning change to be driven by the bribe was not required. The zoning administrator told Troutman that the development request could be accommodated under the zoning status at that time.
While Troutman has raised the issue of the property being outside her ward in an attempt to discredit the FBI, the following is very relevant:
1. The property was on the opposite side of the street from her ward. The alderman whose ward it belongs to admitted that she herself was not always clear on what was in or out but noted the powerful influence she and Troutman both have in the area.
2. The FBI had to forcibly enter Troutman's house after 30 minutes of knocking. Troutman was inside.
3. The FBI search of Troutman's house turned up the following:
A. A warm paper shredder
B. An unregistered handgun, which is a violation of city ordinances banning such
C. Drug residue
D. Suspected drug paraphernalia
Troutman was also caught on FBI tape making an introspective comment regarding bribe-taking that most politicians are "hos."
Troutman is the first female alderman to be charged while still in office. The last alderman to be convicted of a crime was Percy Z. Giles in 1999. Since 1972, 26 Chicago aldermen have been convicted of crimes.
On August 6, 2008, Troutman pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax fraud for filing a false return. On February 17, 2009, she was sentenced to four years in prison, stating "With God as my witness, I am not a monster". She has been ordered to begin serving her sentence June 1, 2009.
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the 20th ward in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. She was appointed to her position by Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
in 1990, to fill a vacancy after the death of alderman Ernest Jones. Troutman was the 16th woman to serve as a Chicago alderman. Despite her arrest and indictment on bribery charges, Troutman was a candidate in the February 27, 2007, election. She was defeated by Willie B. Cochran, a former police sergeant and laundry owner.
On August 6, 2008, Troutman pleaded guilty to two federal counts, including admitting to taking bribes as an alderman. She was sentenced to four years in prison on February 17, 2009, and ordered to begin serving the sentence June 1, 2009.
Personal life
Troutman attended Calumet High School and Southern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
. After graduating she became a supervisor in the Office of Secretary of State. In 1978, she was arrested for shop lifting. Information about the arrest was made public by her opponents. Troutman is the mother of three young sons.
Career as alderman
As alderman, she increased the number of financial institutions in her ward, sponsored the Affordable Housing and Job Training ordinances and fought for improvements for all Chicago Public SchoolsChicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
. She was chairman of the Historical Landmark Preservation Committee, and co-chair of Housing and Real Estate. Additionally she served on the Budget and Government Operations; Buildings; Committees, Rules and Ethics; Education; Police and Fire; Zoning; and Finance Committees.
In 2006, Troutman was active in fundraising for Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and in 2002 was a campaign advisor for Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
.
Troutman had also come under scrutiny on numerous occasions for ethical lapses in her career as alderman. In 2004, it was revealed she may have been dating Donnell "Scandalous" Jehan, the #2 leader of the Black Disciples street gang, who had fled the FBI after being indicated in a $350,000+/week drug operation in Troutman's ward. Jehan had been seen driving Troutman's car. A letter from Chicago Police Patrol Chief James Maurer to Troutman on police letterhead was found in the FBI raid on Jehan's home. Troutman commented that she thought he was "a businessman" and that she let "everybody" drive her car.
Around the time her relationship with Jehan ended, Troutman reported several break-ins at her home and requested 24 hour police presence. This action was noticed by several firearms advocacy groups including the Second Amendment Foundation. and the web site Women & Guns.
The Chicago Sun Times reported that Troutman had helped start a Hired Truck Company for her family to own and profit from. The Hired Truck Program was credited with being the scandal that opened the doors for current federal investigations into City hiring, a part of which led to the recent conviction of Patronage Chief Robert Sorich. Troutman's family business reportedly earned $1.1 million from the program.
Arrest for bribery
On Monday, January 8, 2007, Troutman was arrested and charged with accepting a bribe from a federal informant as part of an undercover investigation. After she refused to open the door and allow the agents entry, FBI agents had to break a window to gain entry to Troutman's home. She was released on $10,000 bond, and awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday, January 13. An affidavit filed by an FBI agent in the case alleged that Troutman accepted a $5,000 bribe and expected another $10,000, in exchange for preferential treatment for a supposed private developer looking to do business in the 20th Ward, which Troutman represents.The developer (Andre P. Johnson, known in the FBI case as cooperating witness-2) has two felony convictions and has been sued on multiple occasions for mortgage fraud and identity theft. The FBI claimed to have been unaware of Johnson's criminal background until it was informed by a reporter from the Chicago Tribune.
Other details of the FBI's case and process raised questions. The property involved in the sting is not part of Troutman's ward. The property in question is on the boundary between the 20th (Troutman's) and the 16th Wards. The distinction placed a limit on the amount of influence that Troutman could have had in any zoning changes. In addition to the property's location being outside of her Ward, Troutman also discovered the zoning change to be driven by the bribe was not required. The zoning administrator told Troutman that the development request could be accommodated under the zoning status at that time.
While Troutman has raised the issue of the property being outside her ward in an attempt to discredit the FBI, the following is very relevant:
1. The property was on the opposite side of the street from her ward. The alderman whose ward it belongs to admitted that she herself was not always clear on what was in or out but noted the powerful influence she and Troutman both have in the area.
2. The FBI had to forcibly enter Troutman's house after 30 minutes of knocking. Troutman was inside.
3. The FBI search of Troutman's house turned up the following:
A. A warm paper shredder
B. An unregistered handgun, which is a violation of city ordinances banning such
C. Drug residue
D. Suspected drug paraphernalia
Troutman was also caught on FBI tape making an introspective comment regarding bribe-taking that most politicians are "hos."
Troutman is the first female alderman to be charged while still in office. The last alderman to be convicted of a crime was Percy Z. Giles in 1999. Since 1972, 26 Chicago aldermen have been convicted of crimes.
On August 6, 2008, Troutman pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax fraud for filing a false return. On February 17, 2009, she was sentenced to four years in prison, stating "With God as my witness, I am not a monster". She has been ordered to begin serving her sentence June 1, 2009.
Election 2007
Despite her arrest and indictment on bribery charges, Troutman was a candidate in the February 27, 2007, election. She was defeated by Willie B. Cochran, a former police sergeant and laundry owner. http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/268202.php?contentType=4&contentId=350427External links
- Chicago Ald. Arenda Troutman Arrested on Federal Bribery Charges, US Department of JusticeUnited States Department of JusticeThe United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, Northern District of Illinois Press Release, January 8, 2007 - US v. Arenda Troutman Indictment, US Department of JusticeUnited States Department of JusticeThe United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, Northern District of Illinois, January 8, 2007 - http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1093870,troutman080608.article*