Metro East Sun

Illinois Policy revealed the top four corruption stories of 2016 last week.

Three took place in Chicago, while the fourth occurred in East St. Louis. These stories were only the tip of the corruption iceberg in Illinois politics.

"Illinoisans should not have to accept corruption in their state," Illinois Policy Institute Analyst Mindy Ruckman said. "Residents and taxpayers should insist on -- and politicians must embrace -- more government transparency."

Some corruption sagas started in 2015 and continued into 2016 as additional details were revealed and prosecutions ensued.

East St. Louis township made headlines with the arrests of eight public officials for corruption. Official misconduct, bribery and forgery were among the charges filed against the East St. Louis councilwoman, two township trustees, a township supervisor and a St. Clair County Board of Review member.

The township supervisor pled guilty to using the township credit card for a variety of personal expenses and a trip to Las Vegas.

The red-light camera program formerly administered by Redflex Traffic Systems was top dog in a year of scandals.

While the case made headlines in 2015 -- with the former CEO pleading guilty to bribery and conspiracy -- it didn't end there. Chicago Deputy Commissioner of Transportation John Bills was convicted in 2016 for his role in ensuring that the company would win the contracts for the red-light camera system.

Additionally, kickbacks to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett led to her guilty plea. She funneled school district contracts worth $23 million to two consulting firms. In return, she received $2.3 million in kickbacks.

The co-owner of the consulting firms, Gary Solomon, also pled guilty to wire fraud.

More kickbacks led to former LAZ parking executive Philip Oropesa's guilty plea in September. He funneled a $22 million contract to Cale Parking Systems USA for $90,000 in bribes.