A federal jury will hear closing arguments Tuesday in the case of ex-AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza, who is accused of secretly funneling payments to an ally of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in an effort to win the powerful Democrat’s support of key legislation in Springfield.
The final presentations to the jury come as both sides rested their cases Monday after testimony from some 14 witnesses over four days.
La Schiazza, 66, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in October 2022 with conspiracy, federal program bribery and using a facility in interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity.
The most serious counts carry up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty and has been free on bond while his case is pending.
According to prosecutors, La Schiazza schemed to pay retiring state Rep. Eddie Acevedo a total of $22,500 over nine months for doing little or no work for AT&T, even though he ostensibly was supposed to produce a report on the Latino caucuses in Springfield and Chicago’s City Hall.