Feds Want Former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson To Serve 2-Year Sentence

CHICAGO — The feds want convicted Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson to serve two years in prison for his conviction on bank fraud and tax evasion charges, according to court papers in advance of his sentencing hearing.

Prosecutors said the criminal conduct of the grandson and nephew of Chicago mayors was "repetitive and willful."

Thompson's "dishonesty was not a single lapse of judgment, but rather, involved years of deceit," according to court papers. "He simply thought he could get away with paying less than what he owed. The sentence imposed must show otherwise. Defendant’s sentence must be sufficient to account for the seriousness of the offense and the need to deter others."

Thompson's lawyer filed a motion asking Judge Franklin Valderrama to sentence the former alderman to a year of probation. Attorney Chris Gair argued that Thompson has "suffered tremendous public humiliation as a result of his conviction" and has had to give up his law license and City Council seat.

"He has lost his job and his career. He has lost most of his life savings defending himself. He has lost his cherished right to vote. He has lost his right to possess a firearm. And he will suffer significant restrictions on his liberty as a result of being on probation," Gair wrote.

The filing included dozens of letters from family, friends, colleagues and supporters, including several friends of his mother, his daughter's boyfriend and two ward bosses.

"He is the couch in the living room, and without him, home just doesn’t feel like home," Thompson's nephew Michael Grace Jr. wrote to the judge, in bolded type, on behalf of his uncle.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) asked Valderrama to "look with leniency and compassion" when sentencing Thompson.

In Ald. Susan Garza Sadlowski's letter, the 10th Ward boss vouched for her convicted former colleague as a "man of integrity committed to his family and a sense of duty to promote his community."

Thompson's mother, Patricia D. Martino, emotionally pleaded with Valderrama to spare her "treasured youngest child" jail time, and promised to pray for the judge for the rest of her life.

"I am in my eighties and lost my husband last summer. The devotion Patrick showed to my husband Peter was so loving and kind. I was in a nursing home after a series of strokes and my children cared for Peter in my absence. I was home for one month before he died. Patrick and my other children were my strength. He is also such a source of strength to my other son Peter who is very ill with cancer and is going through a divorce. He helps his sister Courtney with so much. I pray that he will be spared any prison time. He is such a wonderfully kind man to be admired. His acceptance of all that has happened to him is remarkable," Martino wrote.

"He consoles the rest of us. I love to visit with him and try so hard to be positive and encouraging and then I cry for hours after he leaves. I am so proud of his conduct throughout this trial. I pray that you see his goodness and honesty. Please dear Judge look at my wonderful son and bless him. I will pray for you every day for the rest of my life."

The court filings did not include letters from Thompson's uncles, former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Cook County Commissioner John Daley.