Lake Forest Man Charged With Bribing Ald. Ed Burke, Lying To FBI

LAKE FOREST, IL — In a four count federal indictment unsealed Friday, a Lake Forest attorney and real estate developer was charged with bribing Chicago Ald. Ed Burke in exchange for a sign permit and help getting access to $2 million in tax increment financing for retail property on Chicago's northwest side.

Charles Cui, 48, of the 1500 block of South Ridge Road, Lake Forest, is the owner of property in the 4900 block of West Irving Park Road. He now faces three counts related to bribery and one count of lying to federal investigators after seeking help from the alderman, who was indicted earlier this year on charges he was seeking bribes in the form of business for his law firm in exchange for city business.

According to the indictment, Cui had negotiated a lease with tenants of the building in 2016. A sticking point was permits for an old sign on a pole out front. The business had been denied zoning permission from the city. Although the Portage Park property was not in Burke's Southwest Side ward, Cui figured he was the person at City Hall to go to for help.

"It is such a beautiful sign, it is becoming a landmark for the community and it costs lots of money to remove it," Cui emailed Burke on Aug. 23, 2017, asking him to look into the matter and advise how to move forward. About a month earlier, he had cut a deal with a tenant that would have cost him $750,000 in lost rent if he failed to get the permits necessary to keep the sign. The indictment does not specify the business involved, but the property is currently the site of a Binny's Beverage Depot and a gym. The pole sign is gone.

The next day, Cui emailed the Park Ridge-based attorney who had represented him in past property tax appeals, according to prosecutors.

"Can I ask you a favor? Can I have [Burke] handle 4901 W. Irving Park property tax appeal for me, at least for this year? I have TIF deal going with the City, and he is the Chairman of Finance Committee," Cui wrote. He said Burke "[handed] his tax appeal business card to me, and I need his favor for my [TIF] money. In addition, I need his help for my zoning etc for my project. He is a powerful broker in City Hall, and I need him now. I'll transfer the case back to you after this year."

The City Council had already passed a redevelopment agreement with Cui's firm, Irving Park Property Holdings, which gave him access to $2 million in redevelopment funding once certain conditions were met. The indictment alleges Cui intended to "influence and reward" Burke with business to his firm in exchange for help with the TIF deal. On Sept. 5, 2017, Cui signed an agreement with Burke's law firm to represent him in property tax appeals.

Cui has not responded to requests for comment. He told the Chicago Sun-Times to talk to his attorney but hung up when asked who his lawyer was.

The indictment said Cui lied to the FBI after agents opened a probe into potential federal crimes involving Burke. It said the Lake Forest businessman and attorney told federal investigators he had made no offers of business during the pole signage matter and had offered business to Burke "just because he is a good tax appeal lawyer."

Burke, 75, was indicted in January on charges he tried to extort a fast food franchise owner into giving business to his law firm. When the business owner refused to hire Burke's law firm, which specializes in property tax appeals, the then-Finance Committee chair blocked a driveway permit for the Burger King at 4060 S. Pulaski Road — coincidentally also the site of the 2014 murder of Laquan McDonald — according to allegations from federal prosecutors. Burke resigned as head of the Finance Committee after his indictment was made public.

Prosecutors said Burke also asked the business owner to donate $10,000 to a fundraiser held at his house for Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board, head of the Cook County Democratic Party and recent candidate for Chicago mayor, who hired Burke's son to a six-figure job as a "training and exercise manager" after he resigned from the Cook County Sheriff's Office amid investigations of misconduct and harassment. The Chicago Tribune reported federal prosecutors have until May 3 to file a broader indictment against Burke.

Cui is an immigration lawyer licensed to practice law in Michigan but not Illinois. According to state records, Cui's firm, Immigration Lawyers P.C., donated $6,000 to political committees controlled by Burke between December 2017 and November 2018 — the month he is accused of lying to federal investigators.

In addition, Cui donated extensively in his own name to outgoing 45th Ward Ald. John Arena. The holding company that owned the West Irving Park Road property also gave $2,500 to former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and directed donations to outgoing 40th Ward Ald. Pat O'Connor and retiring 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis, who wore a wire as part of the federal investigation into City Hall corruption.

Less than two months after his indictment, Burke, the 14th Ward aldermen and the City Council's longest-serving member, managed to win re-election and avoid a runoff in February by earning about 55 percent of the vote.

Cui faces one count of federal program bribery, punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison, one count of making a false statement to the FBI and two counts of using interstate commerce to facilitate bribery and official misconduct, which each carry a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.

Indictment of Charles H. Cui unsealed April 11, 2019: