Anthony Bruno gets 16 Months in prison

Anthony Bruno has been sentenced to 16 months prison time for tax fraud years after he became a disbarred lawyer. During the past several years Mr. Bruno and his "consulting" firm, have earned a great deal of taxpayer monies doing economic consulting for Bellwood, Forest Park, Cicero,District 209 and Melrose Park. Bruno was the current Economic Developement Director for the Village of Bellwood. Mayor Frank A. Pasquale never felt the need to separate the Village of Bellwood business with Bruno, now he has no choice.

Bellwood Economic Development Director to be Sentenced

According to the Proviso Herald, a sentencing date has been set in federal court for an economic development consultant who pleaded guilty to tax fraud. Anthony Bruno, 56, and president of Illinois Development Services Corporation, Inc. of Elmhurst, formerly of Melrose Park, is scheduled to appear in federal court Aug. 25 to receive his sentence as part of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false corporate federal tax return. His plea also encompasses additional conduct relating to corporate and individual tax returns for multiple years. The charge carries a maximum of three years in prison and $500,000 fine. Bruno's attorney, Jeff Steinback, said he believes the plea agreement is a fair one and believes the judge's decision will follow suit. "The judge we're coming before is outstanding and will make a reasonable decision," he said. Bruno improperly deducted $186,485 on a corporate tax return filed on July 31, 2006, for calendar year 2001.

His company, which was called Gray and Associates until 2003, was ordered in 2000 to pay $186,485 in unpaid federal taxes from the 1980s. According to the indictment, Bruno "was not entitled to deduct the claimed judgment from (the company's) total income." Bruno claimed a negative income of more than $100,000. Bruno was involved with Bellwood on a new Metra station that would serve the Bellwood and Melrose Park and has worked on various tax-increment financing projects. Bruno, who is also a disbarred attorney, attends regular Bellwood Village Board meetings to give reports to the board on economic development projects going on or being researched in the village by his company.

His company was hired by Melrose Park between 1997 and 2005, most notably on the $41 million project to replace the outdated water system, which has been under investigation by federal authorities and the $50 million River Woods senior housing development. Bruno's consulting work has earned him more than $1.25 million in fees between 1998 and 2005 from Melrose Park, Bellwood, Cicero and Forest Park. School District 209 has also contracted with Bruno's company.

Who is Running for Governor of Illinois in 2010? Who is Running for Lieutenant Governor in 2010?

Possible Candidate
(Party)Current Office or Job
How Close to Running

GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS

Jack Franks (D)
State Representative
Talking with family about next steps

Dan Hynes (D)
Comptroller
Source: “Making plans” to run

Chris Kennedy (D)
President, Merchandise Mart
Spokeswoman: Kennedy is “considering all options”

Pat Quinn (D)
Governor
Running

Adam Andrzejewski (R)
Former businessman, non-profit director
Running

Bill Brady (R)
State Senator
Running

Kirk Dillard (R)
State Senator
Running

Frank Edwards (R)
Springfield Alderman
Running

Matt Murphy (R)
State Senator
Running

Dan Proft (R)
Commentator, publicist
Running

Bob Schillerstrom (R)
DuPage County Board Chairman
Running

Rich Whitney (G)
Attorney
Running

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS

Mike Boland (D)
State Representative
Boland: 95% sure I’m running

Thomas Castillo (D)
Union electrician
Running

Scott Lee Cohen (D)
Businessmen
Running

Justin Oberman (D)
Businessman, former Homeland Security official
Running

Art Turner (D)
State Representative
Running. Spokeswoman: official announcement in early August

Brad Cole (R)
Mayor of Carbondale
Running

Randy White (R)
Hancock County Board Member
Running

Dave Winters (R)
State Representative
Running

Dennis Cook (R)
School District 230 Board President
Thinking about running

Who is Running for Illinois U.S. Senate in 2010?

Possible Candidate (Party)
Current Office or Job
How Close to Running

U.S. SENATE

Alexi Giannoulias (D)
State Treasurer
Running

Cheryle Jackson (D)
President of the Chicago Urban League
Explorartory Committee

Chris Kennedy (D)
President, Merchandise Mart
Considering

Anthony Williams (D or I)
Pastor
Running

John Arrington (R)
Businessman, former Harvey alderman
Running

Mark Kirk (R)
Congressman
Running

Don Lowery (R)
Retired judge
Running

Andy Martin (R)
Internet Publisher
Running

Eric Wallace (R)
Publisher
Running

Bellwood Family Day Picnic

August 1st will be the 6Th Annual Family Day Picnic. Children will be able to enjoy the Union Pacific kiddie locomotive ride. Food, Family, Friends, Car Show, and other activities will fill the Memorial Park Stevenson Park and Washington Blvd. Come join Bellwood and be a part of a great day.

New Belllwood Website

The Village of Bellwood recently unveiled their new website. The new website offers alot of information. I was happy to see that it lays out future plans for economic development in various areas of town. This new website is a great start, but there is more information the village needs to have available online. I am happy to see we are making efforts stepping towards a positive future. To view the new website visit http://www.vil.bellwood.il.us/

2010 Elections

There has been alot of discussion in regards to 2010 Elections. Who is running for Mayor of Chicago against Daley, who is running for Governor against Quinn. I can't wait until it is time to get these petitions signed.