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Former Alderman Pleads Guilty to Mail, Tax Fraud
Produced by Sam Hudzik on Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Ald. Troutman behind her attorney, Sam Adam, Jr. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

A former Chicago alderman pleaded guilty this afternoon to mail and tax fraud. Arenda Troutman lost her reelection bid to the city council last year—just a few weeks after she was indicted. Troutman's attorney, Sam Adam, Jr., took questions from reporters.

Troutman accepted responsibility for using her aldermanic powers to leverage bribes and campaign donations. She also admitted she didn't declare all her income on her tax return. Eleven other charges against Troutman were dropped.

Her attorney, Sam Adam, Jr., says pleading guilty was in the best interests of her family.

ADAM: Should she go to trial and get convicted on this, she's looking, probably, legitimately, about 13 years, which means she'd be 63-years-old when she gets out. Her children would be grown. And she does not want to miss that, nor do the children need her to do that.

Troutman will be sentenced in December. For now, she remains free on bond. The plea deal doesn't contain a cooperation agreement, so she's not obligated to help prosecutors in any other cases.