Two analysts for the Cook County Board of Review were arrested today on federal bribery charges for allegedly accepting $1,500 to help reduce property tax assessments on three residential properties by more than $14,000, according to prosecutors.
Thomas Hawkins and John Racasi provided recommendations on how members of the Board of Review should vote when reviewing appeals of property tax assessments.
Hawkins and Racasi were both on the staff of "Commissioner A" when they accepted the $1,500 bribe in September of 2008 to recommend reductions in assessments, according to the U.S. attorney's office, which said they were not charged at the time because of ongoing investigations." More HERE
