Former alderman sets the record straight about his conviction

Willie Cochran is the third alderman since 1987 from the 20th Ward to go to prison for misconduct while in offi ce. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
Willie Cochran is the third alderman since 1987 from the 20th Ward to go to prison for misconduct while in offi ce. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

Former alderman sets the record straight about his conviction

BY WENDELL HUTSON

Contributing Writer

Now that his criminal case is over former 20th Ward Alderman Willie Cochran explains what he did and did not do in an exclusive interview with the Chicago Citizen.

The retired Chicago police officer said he did not violate his oath as alderman and did not steal money from the “20th Ward Activities Fund” as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois alleged in a 13-count indictment.

In March, Cochran plead guilty to one-count of wire fraud, and next month he will begin serving a one-year prison sentence.

“I am innocent of these charges and if I had the money to fight this case I wouldn’t have plead guilty,” contends Cochran. “I did not take any money that I did not put in there [Fund].”

In its indictment prosecutors alleged that Cochran stole money from the “20th Ward Activities Fund” that was created to assist children and seniors living in the 20th Ward, which includes the Woodlawn, Back of the Yards and Englewood neighborhoods.

However, Cochran said while he did take money from the Fund’s bank account, which he said was closed Dec. 31, 2013, he did so legally.

“From 2010 to 2013 I loaned the account money because checks and donations don’t always come in a timely fashion, but the events have to take place,” explained Cochran. “So I used my money to pay. When the money comes back then I take my money back out.”

In a plea deal, the U.S. Attorney’s Office acknowledged that Cochran contributed monies into the Fund, but withdrew more than what he paid.

“While defendant personally donated in excess of approximately $32,000 to the Fund, he withdrew money, and used that money for his own personal expenses in excess of that amount,” the plea deal stated. “Defendant acknowledges that between January 2010 and April 2014, he took approximately $14,285 in excess of what he donated from the 20th Ward Activities Fund, and converted the money to his own personal use.”

Monies taken from the Fund, according to the government, included $13,100 used to pay his daughter’s tuition at Eastern Illinois University and $25,758.59 at ATMs near casinos.

“The government did not want to give me credit for money used for my daughter’s college tuition even though she earned this money working for me as an interpreter, youth track coach and working in my office,” said Cochran.

There were other legitimate expenses Cochran said the government did not give him credit for and now has been ordered to repay.

“I took my interns to Springfield for a civic trip and I spent money getting two hotel rooms, bought five CDs for a raffle (for gift baskets), etc, but the government wants me to pay back this money as part of the $14,000 they said I owe,” Cochran told the Citizen.

Ultimately though, Cochran said he accepted a plea deal to prevent his family from enduring financial hardship, which he said would have occurred had he went to trial.

At a June press conference following Cochran’s sentencing hearing the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, John Lausch, said Chicago historically has a public corruption problem and “we’ve seen that happen here with this case with former alderman Cochran.”

In March, Cochran resigned as alderman after pleading guilty. He contends that had he not been indicted instead of running for re-election this year he would have run for Cook County Sheriff or mayor of Chicago. Cochran was first elected alderman in 2007 after retiring as a Chicago police officer. And despite his conviction Cochran will still receive his police pension as allowed by state law.

The indictment also stated Cochran used money he took from the Fund to buy items for his home and car, and Cochran said that is correct.

“My vehicles are registered as ‘Willie B. Cochran 20th Ward’ and were used for the activities fund. I bought tires for the car and van because they were being used for political purposes,” he said. “The items they [federal prosecutors] said I bought for my home were two lamps, two vases, two cup coasters, a juicer used at political picnics, and utensils. My home is registered with the state as my home office and the IRS allows you to buy things for your office. And just because it (my office) is in my home does not disqualify it.”

The indictment also included bribery and extortion charges, which Cochran denied, and the government later dropped.

After first being cleared by the IRS of any financial crimes Cochran said the government indicted him once he refused to cooperate in their investigation into Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and former Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Burke, who pleaded not guilty, was hit with a 14-count federal indictment in May that includes extortion and racketeering. Emmanuel has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

At press time, the Citizen could not confirm Cochran’s claim that the government wanted him to assist them in other investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick, declined comment.

Emmanuel was unavailable for comment.

Cochran is the third alderman from the 20th Ward to go to prison since 1987 when former Alderman Cliff Kelly went to prison after he admitted taking $30,000 in bribes. Kelly was replaced by former Chicago police officer Ernest Jones, who died in office. After his death he was replaced by Arenda Troutman, who went to prison herself in 2009, for shaking down real estate developers.

In April voters elected Jeanette Taylor, a progressive-Democrat, as the latest 20th Ward alderman.

“I am not the judge or jury and I do not have a Heaven or Hell to send anyone to, so I don’t have an opinion about Willie Cochran’s situation,” said Taylor.

But even before being elected Taylor said voters were already concerned about a new alderman.

“During my campaign voters asked me how do I plan to stay out of jail since two previous aldermen had went to prison already,” she said. “I told them ‘I don’t look good in orange. That ain’t a fat girl’s color. Bologna in prison has no first name. I’m an Oscar Meyer lover. And it’s not enough to just vote for me. I need you help running the ward.’ One person cannot run a ward. It takes the community too.”

In the end, Cochran said he accepts responsibility for his actions regardless how flawed the government made it seem, and is ready to move on with his life.

“I don’t want to make excuses because this falls on me. I should have made better choices,” said Cochran. “I shouldn’t have been gambling but it became a source of income. After I complete my prison sentence I want to come out and make life better not only for me and my family but for everyone.”

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