Watch CBS News

Former City Official Gets 10 Years In Red Light Camera Bribery Case

CHICAGO (AP) -- A former Chicago transportation official has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of taking bribes to steer $100 million in red-light camera contracts to a company in Phoenix.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall sentenced John Bills on Monday in Chicago. Federal prosecutors had asked the judge for at least a 10-year prison sentence.

The former second-in-command at Chicago's Department of Transportation was convicted in January of bribery, conspiracy and extortion.

Bills was accused of accepting envelopes stuffed with cash, along with gifts -- including condos in two states and a Mercedes -- to help Redflex Traffic Systems obtain contracts in a decade-long scheme.

Bills' attorney, Nishay Sanan, had asked for a more lenient three-to-four year sentence.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.