Two Former Cook County Board of Review Analysts Convicted of Accepting $1,500 Bribe to Facilitate $10,000 Property Tax Reduction

CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)—October 28, 2013. Two former analysts for the Cook County Board of Review were convicted today on federal conspiracy, bribery, and fraud charges for accepting $1,500 to facilitate reducing by more than $10,000 the property taxes on three residential properties identified by an individual who was cooperating with federal agents. The defendants, THOMAS HAWKINS and JOHN RACASI, were captured scheming with others to facilitate reducing property tax assessments in exchange for bribes in undercover recordings…