CHICAGO (WGN) — Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore was sentenced Monday to 24 months in federal prison and a $750,000 fine for her role in a bribery scandal.
Prosecutors wanted a nearly six-year sentence for Pramaggiore. In the end, however, the judge said the sentencing guidelines had gone too far and settled on a two-year sentence for the former ComEd CEO.
The case centered around former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. It is a case that reached the top of political power in Springfield and brought down one of the most powerful politicians in Illinois’ history.
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Federal prosecutors alleged that ComEd officials and others, known as the “ComEd Four,” devised a scheme to influence Madigan by paying his allies a total of $1.3 million from 2011 through 2019 for allegedly non-existent consulting contracts.
It’s been more than two years since a jury convicted all four: Madigan ally Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, and former City Club President Jay Doherty.
McClain and Doherty will be sentenced in the next two weeks.
Last week, Hooker was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $500,000.
Federal prosecutors sought a 70-month sentence and a $2 million fine, arguing that Pramaggiore lied during the trial.
Madigan was found guilty in February. Last month, the judge sentenced him to 7 1/2 years and ordered him to pay a $2.5 million fine.
Judge Manish Shah on Monday called the scheme “secretive, sophisticated, criminal corruption, telling Pramaggiore, “You had the power to stop this. You could have said ‘No, this is not how legislation should be done.’”
Shah added: “I understand that securing influence with Mr. Madigan made business sense, but when it came to Mr Madigan and Mr. McClain, you didn’t think to change the culture of corruption. Instead, you were all in.”
Pramaggiore’s attorney says he does plan to appeal. She is scheduled to report to federal prison on Monday, Dec. 1.
