Stanley guilty of bribery; aiding probe
May 9, 2003

BY STEVE WARMBIR AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters

"The Hog" is really starting to squeal to the feds.

And those squeals, from GOP businessman Roger "The Hog" Stanley, could lead to significant problems for some prominent state Republicans as federal agents continue their probe of state political corruption.

Stanley, a former state lawmaker who ran a successful direct-mail firm specializing in political campaigns, pleaded guilty to a bribery scheme Thursday. Stanley, 60, faces more than two years behind bars when he is sentenced in August, a break expected because of his cooperation. After Stanley pays $67,000 in restitution, he would get to keep his state pension--$55,253 annually--an amount that was inflated thanks to a "make-work" state job created by his political pals.

Stanley's cooperation could be valuable, with sources saying he has related alleged misdeeds by a powerful Republican, Michael Tristano, the former chief of staff to former House Republican Leader Lee Daniels.

Federal investigators are looking into alleged political corruption by Daniels, and the revelations regarding Tristano increase the pressure on Tristano to cooperate. Neither Tristano nor Daniels has been charged with wrongdoing.

Tristano "hasn't done anything wrong," his attorney Terry Gillespie said.

Stanley told the feds that, at the request of Tristano, he helped create a ghost-payrolling job for a Downstate Republican running in a key state House race in 2000, according to documents and sources. Tristano is identified in Stanley's plea agreement only as "Official One." Prosecutors refused to identify "Official One." The ghost job, paying $4,000 a month, was at a real estate firm linked to Stanley.

The candidate who got the job but lost his race was Harry Jankowski of Downstate Nashville, who admitted he did little work.

"Am I going to think the public isn't going to think it stinks a little bit?" Jankowski asked. "Of course not. I'm not a fool."

Jankowski said he made a total of eight to 12 phone calls over six to eight months to scout for municipal real estate jobs in southern Illinois for the firm, Heritage Renaissance Partners. He produced no leads. He said possibly either Tristano or another Republican official--he wasn't sure--helped set him up with the job. Jankowski, a home remodeler, said he needed the money because Republican officials pressured him to campaign constantly, and he couldn't provide for his family.

"Can I tell you that I busted my butt or worked 40 hours a week" on the real estate consulting job, Jankowski asked. "No, I did not."

For providing the job to Jankowski, the real estate firm got help from Tristano. Tristano allegedly greased the way for a state grant to the Village of Willow Springs to widen Archer Avenue in town. That move allegedly benefitted the real estate firm, which would have had to spend its own money on the job as part of a nearly $60 million real estate development project.

Tristano also allegedly directed Stanley to set up a fake political committee to hide the source of negative mailings against Demo-crats. The fake committee, identified by sources as the Taxpayers League, was later investigated by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Outside court Thursday, Stanley, a once highly successful businessman, said he was "absolutely" relieved with the guilty plea behind him. Stanley's prominent attorney, Michael Ettinger, said his client wants to serve his time and move on.

Stanley, who is plagued with health problems, pleaded guilty to giving bribes to a friend of then-Gov. George Ryan, Donald Udstuen, a former lobbyist and Metra board member. In return for the bribes, Udstuen, who has pleaded guilty, was to help Stanley get Metra contracts and political clients.

Stanley also admitted to giving kickbacks to campaign aides, including Ryan's key aide, Scott Fawell, and Tim Holloway, who helped both Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and state Supreme Court Justice Bob Thomas in their campaigns. Fawell and Holloway have been convicted in federal court, but there is nothing to suggest the candidates knew what was happening. Stanley also got other contracts from his friend Fawell when he ran the agency overseeing McCormick Place and Navy Pier, with Stanley providing favors in return, the feds say.

As for Tristano, he could not be reached for comment Thursday.

But during an interview last year on allegations of wrongdoing, Tristano blamed his foes for his problems.

"So many enemies I have," he said, philosophically. "What have I done wrong in my life?"