New Bribery Conspiracy Charge Filed Against Former Cook County Assessor's Office Official

CHICAGO — More than six years since the ouster of former Cook County assessor and Democratic Party boss Joe Berrios, federal prosecutors continue to file fresh felony charges against his underlings.

Francisco "Frankie" Perez, a former chief hearings officer for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, was charged Friday with conspiracy to commit bribery.

Prosecutors allege that Perez accepted gifts, including sports tickets and free meals, to lower property tax assessments for commercial properties.

The one-count, four-page information indicates that Perez and his attorneys have been in discussions with prosecutors and that they expect him to plead guilty without the need for an indictment.

Perez, 50, of Chicago, was a high-ranking official in the office until Dec. 6, 2018, when he was removed by Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s incoming administration.

His job included assigning property assessment appeals to analysts and directly reviewing cases for commercial properties.

According to federal prosecutors, Perez repeatedly accepted bribes from an unnamed lawyer, referred to as "Individual A," while serving under former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios.

From early 2018 through late 2018, Perez used his position to influence property tax assessments, according to the charges.

In the single "overt act" described in the information, Perez allegedly called the lawyer on Nov. 16, 2018, to discuss the status of several property appeals. During the call, which investigators recorded, Perez suggested that shaky cases be pulled for reassessment.

"What we need to do is in the next two weeks, all the ones that you’re like shaky on, you’re like, ‘Man, this s--- didn’t come out right,’ boom," Perez said. "Pull them, and we’ll look.”

Prosecutors said Perez violated Illinois law by knowingly accepting gifts intended to influence his decisions. Under state law, public officials cannot accept personal benefits tied to their official duties.

Perez faces a maximum of five years in prison, though it could be a significantly shorter sentence. He could enter a guilty plea as early as his initial court appearance on Jan. 22, an arraignment and plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Sunil Harjani.

The charges against Perez, first reported by the Chicago Tribune, are part of a wider federal investigation into corruption within the Cook County Assessor’s Office during Berrios’ tenure. Several former employees have already been charged or pleaded guilty to similar schemes.

In August 2022, another staffer at the assessor's office, Lavdim Memisovski of Burbank, admitted to accepting bribes in exchange for tax breaks totaling over $1 million. He is awaiting sentencing.

At an August 2024 trial, Indiana businessman Robert Mitziga was acquitted of bribery and conspiracy charges in a case involving allegations of free golf for reduced property assessments.

Prosecutors alleged that Mitziga used his Lost Dunes Golf Club membership to bribe Cook County Assessor’s Office employees, including Memisovski and Basilio Clausen, but Mitziga testified the outings were unrelated to the tax reductions.

Clausen and Memisovski, who pleaded guilty in related cases, testified against Mitziga. The defense emphasized the lack of direct evidence, successfully convincing jurors that there was enough reasonable doubt to find Mitziga, the owner of Fence Masters Inc., was not guilty.

Later than month, Alex Nitchoff, 57, of Lemont, was sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to corruptly give something of value to influence and reward a public official and one count of using an interstate facility to facilitate bribery.

A third assessor's office employee, Lumni Likovski of Burbank, is set to stand trial next month.