Illinois corruption 8/29/12: Ex-Chicago food inspector sentenced for bribery

The former Sears Tower

Today's corruption update will give you a sick feeling in your stomach.

From the Chicago Tribune:

A retired city food inspector has been sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison for taking $96,000 or more from at least 531 people to help them get state food service licenses, federal prosecutors said today.

Maryanne Koll, 69, of Burr Ridge, was first charged in 2007 and was found guilty in September 2011 of conspiracy to commit bribery, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Robert Henry, of Olympia Fields, pleaded guilty in late 2007 to helping Koll carry out the scheme, referring about 100 of the people who bribed Koll to her.

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In the scheme, restaurant, grocery and other food-service workers paid between $300 and $400 to obtain the state or city certificates, prosecutors said. Between 1995 and 2007, Koll had state authorization to teach state-mandated food sanitation courses and give exams to people seeking certification as food-service sanitation managers.

Between 2004 and 2007, using her home-based company, Kollmar Food Safety Institute, Koll fraudulently obtained certificates for people who bribed her so they would not have to take the required classes, prosecutors said.

Chicago's inspector general assisted in this case. However, that office has no power to investigate the City Council. Since 1973, 31 aldermen have been convicted of crimes.

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