Louis Presta, Bribery Scheme, Illinois 2024

CHICAGO – Louis Presta, 69, the mayor of Crestwood, Illinois, is facing a federal indictment alleging a brazen bribery scheme tied to the town’s red-light camera program. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced Thursday that Presta is accused of accepting benefits from a red-light camera company in exchange for continued business with the southwest suburb.

The indictment details three counts of using a facility in interstate commerce in aid of bribery and official misconduct. Presta is also charged with two counts of willfully filing false income tax returns, one count of failing to file a return altogether, and a single count of lying to federal investigators with both the FBI and IRS. The charges stem from an alleged pattern of accepting undisclosed benefits while the camera company sought to expand its services in Crestwood.

Federal investigators claim Presta specifically requested and received benefits from company representatives. The most damning allegation centers around a March 7, 2018, meeting where Presta allegedly accepted an envelope containing $5,000 in cash. During a September 2019 interview, Presta reportedly denied receiving any gifts, cash, or campaign contributions from the camera company. When confronted with evidence of the meeting – a recording of the exchange – Presta allegedly claimed the envelope contained no money, a statement the indictment refutes.

Beyond the alleged bribery, the indictment accuses Presta of financial malfeasance. He is charged with filing false income tax returns for the calendar years 2015 and 2018, and willfully failing to file a return for 2014. These charges suggest a broader effort to conceal income potentially derived from the illicit arrangement with the red-light camera company. The government, represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Stetler and James P. Durkin, is building a case that goes beyond a simple exchange of cash.

The announcement of the indictment was a joint effort between U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr., FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr., and IRS Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent-in-Charge Kathy A. Enstrom. While the indictment marks a significant step in the investigation, authorities were quick to remind the public that it does not constitute proof of guilt. Presta is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted on the bribery and false statement charges, Presta faces up to five years in prison per count. Filing a false tax return carries a maximum sentence of three years, and failure to file can result in up to one year behind bars. Sentencing will be determined based on federal guidelines and statutes, ensuring a “reasonable” penalty if Presta is found guilty. Arraignment has not yet been scheduled, leaving the future of Crestwood’s mayor hanging in the balance.