Lake Forest Developer Charles Cui Convicted Of Corruptly Offering Legal Work To Ed Burke

CHICAGO — After a six-week trial, jurors deliberated for less than 24 hours to find a Lake Forest real estate developer guilty of bribing a Chicago alderman and lying to federal investigators about it.

Charles Cui, 52, was convicted on all five counts against him, corruptly offering or agreeing to give things of value, using an interstate facility to promote unlawful activity and knowingly making a false statement to the FBI.

Cui's conviction centers on his efforts to secure a sign permit for a Binny's Beverage Depot at 4901 W. Irving Park Road on Chicago's North Side. The stakes were high for the Lake Forest businessman, with a potential loss of $750,000 in his lease agreement with Binny's on the line.

Jurors found Cui sought to leverage Burke's influence by sending property tax appeal business to the longtime alderman's law firm, Klafter & Burke. Burke, the longest-serving alderman in Chicago history at the time of his retirement earlier this year, spent 54 years on the City Council, including as the chair of the powerful finance committee during the August 2017 pole sign bribery scheme.

Prosecutors presented email evidence showing the developer acknowledged Burke's clout in Chicago and told his normal property tax appeal attorney he was dropping him because he needed Burke's help — as well as wiretapped recordings of Burke discussing the sign issue with his assistant, referring to Cui several times as "the Chinese guy."

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At trial, prosecutors revealed that Burke contacted the city's zoning administrator and the building commissioner, to inquire about the issues preventing the permit for the Binny's pole sign at Cui's development.

The FBI interviewed Cui on Nov. 29, the day federal investigators raided the powerful alderman's offices. At the time, Cui told them he had not offered any business to Burke over the pole signage matter and hired him "just because he is a good tax appeal lawyer."

The prosecution painted a picture of the pattern by which Burke used his position to expedite or stall property-related matters and permits based on personal benefits.

In addition to the Binny's sign, Burke was convicted over soliciting work for his law firm from companies involved in the redevelopment project at the Old Main Post Office in Chicago, attempting to extort the owner of a Southwest Side Burger King and threatening to increase the admission fee at the Field Museum while trying to get an internship for his friend.

The 16-day trial included testimony from 38 witnesses, and was reliant on audiovisual evidence gathered by FBI mole Danny Solis, a former Chicago alderman who wore a wire to avoid jail over his own corruption.

Under a deferred prosecution agreement, Solis, a former 25th Ward alderman, could have the only charge ever filed against him dismissed in April 2025 without having to go to trial.

The most serious charge Cui faced is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines will likely see him face less time behind bars. At trial, his attorney pointed out English is not his first language, which may have led to potential misunderstanding.

Cui was not present as the verdict was read due to an unspecified illness. He waived his right to be present, appeared via videoconference and has not commented since his conviction.

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"This case was about bribery and extortion occurring at the highest level of Chicago city government," said Morris Pasqual, the acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

"Our office represents the people of the United States," Pasqual told reporters. "The people have a right to honest and open government. Decisions about official actions that public officials take should be based not on their interest but on the public interest — that did not happen in this case.

Prosecutors and Cui's attorneys have until June 3 to submit their sentencing recommendations to the judge.

Cui's sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 17, while Ed Burke is set to be sentenced two days later for the 13 counts on which he was convicted, including the more serious offenses of racketeering and extortion.

Earlier: Lake Forest Businessman Charles Cui Pleads Not Guilty To Bribing Indicted Ald. Ed Burke