In a verdict that is likely to create ripples through Chicago’s political scene, former Alderman Ed Burke has been found guilty of a series of charges of corruption. Burke, who represented the 14^th Ward and was a major player in the Windy City’s politics for five decades, is facing some serious prison time.

The verdict was handed down on Thursday. Burke was convicted of charges related to racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion.

Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, one of the most powerful and longest-serving politicians in the Windy City, was found guilty Thursday of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion after a six-week-long federal corruption trial.

The 79-year-old Democrat was convicted on 13 of the 14 charges leveled against him in a 2019 federal indictment accusing the veteran Chicago City Council member of using his position to steer business from private developers to his law firm.

Prosecutors also alleged that Burke threatened to block a measure raising admission fees at Chicago’s famed Field Museum over its failure to grant an internship to the daughter of a former alderman, whom he had recommended.

Burke’s shakedown scheme targeted the developer working on a $600 million renovation of Chicago’s Old Post Office, a Burger King in the former alderman’s 14th Ward and Midwest liquor store chain Binny’s Beverage Depot.

The trial brought to light several instances of Burke’s corrupt activity. It detailed how he used his position to pressure and bully business owners and other city officials into funneling money and benefits his way. The verdict was the culmination of a long and highly publicized trial. He now joins 38 other Chicago aldermen to be convicted of illicit activity since 1972.

At the heart of the case were more dozens of wiretapped phone calls and secretly recorded meetings made by Daniel Solis, the former 25th Ward alderman who turned FBI mole after being confronted in 2016 with his own wrongdoing.

The proceedings highlighted the various ways in which the former alderman abused his position.

In May 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Burke on racketeering and bribery charges. The government accused Burke of allegedly using his position as alderman and the chair of the City Council’s powerful Finance Committee to extort private business to his property tax appeals firm, Klafter & Burke.

Among the charges in the 19-count indictment, Burke was accused of soliciting legal work from developers involved in the Old Post Office renovation and the owners of a Burger King undergoing construction in his ward. Burke was also accused of using his position as an alderman to obtain legal business from [real estate developer Charles] Cui in exchange for help with a pole sign permit at the developer’s property in Portage Park. The government also charged that Burke had threatened Field Museum employees after the museum had failed to respond to Burke’s request about an internship for the daughter of his friend and former alderman, Terry Gabinski.

Cui was also convicted for hiring Burke’s law firm to perform property tax appeals in exchange for the former alderman’s assistance in a permit dispute for a pole sign for Binny’s Beverage Depot. Peter Andrews Jr., who was also charged in the case, was acquitted of all counts.

Chicago's political environment has been rife with corruption for decades, with several government officials having been caught up in various displays of corruption. Earlier in 2023, a report outlined widespread fraud and abuse allegations in Chicago's public schools.

Burke’s sentencing is scheduled for June 17, and he could be facing up to 110 years in prison.