Former Melrose Park Police Chief Vito Scavo could have been sentenced to more than 25 years in prison but instead got a six-year sentence, according to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times. Mr. Scavo was found guilty on extortion and racketeering charges linked to his private security firm.
The former police chief extorted area business owners to hire his private security firm. However, details of just how he pressured or coerced businesses were not disclosed in the article.
Mr. Scavo's Chicago criminal defense attorneys had asked for a 5-year sentence for the fraud conviction, according to the article.
Comments made by US District Judge Joan Gottschall at the Chicago hearing may shed some light on the reason for his relatively light sentence, as quoted by the Sun-Times:
"The harm to the people of Melrose Park, to me, seemed to be relatively limited. There was criminality, but I just don't believe this was the crime of the century."
But Assistant US Attorney Scott Drury painted a contrasting picture of Mr. Scavo, telling Judge Gottschall that his corruption stopped at no one, even including some churches and a children's amusement park called Kiddieland:
"[Scavo was] a person who cheats, who preys, who lies. He did it to all aspects of people in Melrose Park for years."
Mr. Drury told the court that Mr. Scavo's security firm made millions.
But while he was ultimately found guilty for his crimes, Judge Gottschall stated that she didn't believe the 61 year old convict deserved a harsher sentence than former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who is serving 6 and 1/2 years.
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