(WTTW News)
The four former Commonwealth Edison executives and officials convicted on bribery and other charges this week in the so-called “ComEd Four” case will be sentenced early next year.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber on Friday set four separate sentencing dates in January 2024 — more than eight months after a federal jury convicted the former Commonwealth Edison officials and executives of conspiring to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, 64, former ComEd lobbyist and longtime Madigan confidant Mike McClain, 75, were each convicted on nine counts, while retired ComEd executive John Hooker, 74, and ex-City Club of Chicago president and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty, 69, were found guilty on six charges.
McClain is scheduled to be the first to be sentenced on Jan. 11, 2024. Pramaggiore will be sentenced Jan. 16, followed by Hooker who will be sentenced Jan. 25. Doherty is then scheduled for sentencing Jan. 30.
Ex-City Club of Chicago president and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty, retired ComEd executive John Hooker, former ComEd lobbyist Mike McClain and ex-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore were found guilty. (File photos)
The trial lasted nearly two months and jurors deliberated for 27 hours over five days before reaching their verdicts. Each of the defendants was found guilty on every charge they faced.
Federal prosecutors told jurors the defendants acted as a close-knit group of conspirators who worked to provide “a continuous stream of benefits” to corruptly influence and reward Madigan in order to get his support on ComEd’s legislative agenda in Springfield.
Each of the defendants face up to five years in prison on the bribery conspiracy charge. They also face up to 20 years in prison on each count of falsifying records and up to 10 years on each bribery charge.
WBEZ reported Thursday that, following his convictions, the Illinois General Assembly has moved to suspend McClain’s state pension.
Madigan was not charged in the “ComEd Four” case, but faces his own racketeering case with McClain next year. That trial is scheduled to begin April 1, 2024, two months after the last ComEd sentencing.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
