AT&T Illinois has agreed to pay a $23 million fine to address charges that the company improperly steered money to an ally of former House Speaker Mike Madigan in order to get Madigan’s help on legislation sought by the company.
Under a “deferred prosecution agreement,” AT&T Illinois will pay the fine and admit guilt, and if it commits no other offenses, the criminal charge will be dropped in two years. The agreement alleges that AT&T Illinois paid more than $22,000 to former lawmaker Ed Acevedo through a lobbying firm, but says Acevedo did no actual work for the money.
In addition to the agreement with AT&T Illinois, prosecutors have also indicted a former company executive for his role in the alleged scheme…and have added an additional count to the pending corruption charges against Madigan and a longtime associate.
