From The Chicago Sun-Times:

Judge to Stanley: Tell all or go to jail

August 23, 2002

BY STEVE WARMBIR FEDERAL COURTS REPORTER

Former Republican state lawmaker Roger Stanley, charged in a corruption case, must come clean about any cash and property he has in sunny Costa Rica, or he'll get a new home at the decidedly less sunny federal detention center in downtown Chicago, a judge decided Thursday.

Stanley, who is married with two children, lied to officials earlier this year about his assets in Costa Rica and that he has a little boy and girlfriend there, U.S. District Chief Judge Charles Kocoras ruled.

When prosecutors found out about the lies, they tried to get Stanley thrown in jail last week. They were worried he could flee to Costa Rica, where he has a home and a travel agency.

Stanley, who ran a direct mail company with many prominent politicians as clients, is charged with passing bribes to a Metra board member to obtain contracts from the agency.

The charges are part of the federal investigation of corruption under Gov. Ryan.

On Thursday, the judge decided there was some risk Stanley could take off but not enough to throw him in jail.

Still, he ordered Stanley to answer the prosecutor's questions about his assets within a week.

"I think you're entitled to honest answers," the judge told Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon.

For now, Stanley is free after putting up his half interest in a $1 million building.

But prosecutors want a better picture of how much money he has to determine whether they should have his bond increased to keep him here.

Stanley's prominent attorney, Michael Ettinger, repeatedly has pointed out that Stanley has given up his passport.

Details about Stanley's double life in Costa Rica emerged earlier this week when court records became public showing he had a longtime paramour in the Central American country, as well as a young son, named Roger.

Stanley also has had his pension checks from the state jobs he once held cashed in a Costa Rican bank. He has two bank accounts there that prosecutors know about.

His attorneys said Stanley is cashing out his assets in Costa Rica.