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Vrdolyak Released From Prison

"He has served his complete sentence and has been released," Marvin Pitt, a prison executive assistant

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Ed Vrdolyak

Former Ald. Ed Vrdolyak (Credit: CBS)

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (CBS) — Former Chicago alderman and political powerbroker Edward Vrdolyak was released from prison Thursday.

Vrdolyak, 73, has completed his 10-month sentence at the federal prison camp in Terre Haute, Ind. He will still have to serve another 10 months of home confinement.

“He has served his complete sentence and has been released,” Marvin Pitt, a prison executive assistant, told the Chicago Tribune.

The powerbroker known as “Fast Eddie” was originally sentenced to probation by U.S. District Judge Milton I. Shadur for a $1.5 million kickback scheme. But last year, Vrdolyak was resentenced to 10 months in prison by Judge Matthew Kennelly after prosecutors appealed the original sentence and an appeals panel agreed.

He was also fined $260,000.

Vrdolyak pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 2008. He admitted to scheming with businessman and convicted scam artist Stuart Levine to split a $1.5 million payoff to arrange the sale of a Gold Coast building belonging to Smithfield Properties, eliminating other bidders. The building had belonged to the former Chicago Medical School.

Vrdolyak represented the Far Southeast Side’s 10th Ward in the City Council from 1971 to 1986, and gained the “Fast Eddie” moniker because of his ability to hammer out back-room deals.

Vrdolyak also served the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party. He led the bloc of 29 aldermen who battled the late Mayor Harold Washington during the “Council Wars” era in the 1980s.

Vrdolyak later switched parties and ran for mayor unsuccessfully as a Republican. He was also a key adviser to former Cicero Town President Betty Loren-Maltese, who was convicted in a scheme to loot the western suburb’s treasury.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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  • ChicagoCitizen

    This guy was scr*wed big time! The original sentence was sufficient. These prosecuters are just head hunters. They shouldn’t be able to appeal and overturn a judges fair decision!!

    • smooth

      did you not belong to the “OJ is innocent” fan club? That is right cuz you were the president.

    • Jim Hamilton

      ChicagoCitizen must be a fellow alderman and knows his time is coming and to find out that the judge they’ve had on the take isn’t the one issuing out sentences scares him. ROFL

  • Tom

    Hey Mr. ChicagoCitizen-Why do you think these guys keep committing these crimes? Let me answer for you. Because when they get convicted nothing ever happens to them. Even a 10 month sentence is a joke. Especially in the Indiana camp.

    I hope that Eddie had the decency to make his bed and clean his room when he left so Rod will be able to get situated right away when he gets there.

    • Jim Hamilton

      LOL Tom you got that right who wouldn’t spend 10 months at day care camp indiana for 1.5mil well minus the 260G’s he has to pay in fines (pay off for his day camp). What a joke our system has become.

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