CPS Insider Soto Admits Lying to Feds in $1 Billion Contract Probe

CHICAGO – A former Chicago Public Schools employee has fallen from grace, admitting today he deliberately misled federal investigators probing a massive $1 billion custodial services contract. PEDRO SOTO, 45, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to an agency of the United States – a charge that carries a potential five-year federal prison sentence.

The case centers around a 2016 bid for a lucrative custodial services deal. Soto, then a member of the CPS evaluation committee tasked with recommending a winning company to the Chicago Board of Education, allegedly used his position to feed inside information to a lobbyist and their colleague, who were actively working to secure the contract for one of the bidding companies. According to a plea agreement, Soto wasn’t doing it out of civic duty. He admitted receiving promises of “various benefits” in exchange for the confidential intel.

The FBI began investigating these interactions, and in 2019, Soto allegedly dug himself deeper. He flatly denied providing the lobbyist’s colleague with any non-public information regarding the contract award. Today’s guilty plea confirms he was lying. He confessed to intentionally deceiving the FBI about his role in the scheme, attempting to cover up his illicit dealings and the potential quid pro quo.

Federal prosecutors aren’t detailing the nature of the promised “benefits” at this time, leaving open questions about the scope of the alleged corruption. Sources close to the investigation suggest the benefits extended beyond simple monetary gain, possibly involving future employment opportunities or other forms of preferential treatment. The Chicago Board of Education Inspector General’s Office played a key role in uncovering the initial evidence that led to the federal investigation.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman hasn’t set a sentencing date yet, but a status hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. Soto’s legal team has yet to issue a statement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Kutcher and Michelle Kramer, who are determined to see justice served for the betrayal of public trust.

This guilty plea is the latest in a string of public corruption cases plaguing Chicago, highlighting the ongoing challenges of maintaining integrity within the city’s institutions. John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, jointly announced the guilty plea, signaling a continued crackdown on those who exploit public office for personal gain. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.