Mike Madigan confidant Tim Mapes sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in perjury case
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tim Mapes left federal court after being sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a federal prison for perjury and obstruction of justice on Monday.
Federal prosecutors were asking for five years in prison while the defense recommended community service.
Monday's hearing began at 10 a.m. at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago. Before hearing his fate, the former longtime chief of staff to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan spoke briefly to the judge.
While Mapes did not admit guilt, he did say he was "humbled and remorseful." The 69-year-old choked up when he spoke about the hardship the case has caused his family, included his aging father who Mapes helps with his farm in western Illinois.
Last August, a jury quickly found Mapes guilty of lying to a federal grand jury when answering questions about a broader investigation into Madigan and others.
Prosecutors granted Mapes immunity as long as he told the truth. Had he done it, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz argued, he would have made a great witness. Instead, Schwartz said, Mapes chose to be "flagrant and brazen" by disrespecting the oath.
Before handing down his sentence, Judge John Kness told Mapes he believes he is a good man based on the 150 letters support for Mapes. Kness went on the say, "This is a sad case to me, because I don't understand why you did it, because you were immunized. All you had to do was go in and tell the truth."
In Springfield, Mapes had a reputation for being abrasive as Madigan's loyal gatekeeper. Kness told Mapes perhaps it was his misguided loyalty to Madigan that motivated him to lie to a federal grand jury.
Mapes must report to federal prison on June 11. He as requested to serve his term at a facility in Pensacola, Florida. In the meantime, his former boss will go on trial in October for bribery and racketeering.
