FBI: County tax employee took bribes to warn of inspections
By Annie Sweeney
Tribune reporter
1:02 PM CDT, August 8, 2012
A Cook County revenue inspector tipped off the manager of a convenience store to upcoming tobacco inspections in return for regular payoffs, according to a criminal complaint unsealed today in federal court.
Robert Mitchell, 39, was snagged in an undercover FBI sting after the store manager alerted authorities.
Mitchell, who was employed by the county Department of Revenue, agreed to text the shop owner about upcoming county inspections to check that taxes had been paid on cigarettes the shop was selling, authorities said.
Mitchell, of the 2400 block of W. Flournoy St., was paid $600 a month, according to a criminal complaint.
Mitchell was arrested Tuesday on a charge of attempted extortion. He was released today after appearing in federal court, and his next court date was set for Aug. 17.
asweeney@tribune.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-fbi-county-tax-employee-took-bribes-to-warn-of-inspections-20120808,0,2771782.story
Thursday, August 9, 2012
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