useapen
2023-12-16 09:29:09 UTC
The former mayor of Harvey, Illinois, allegedly turned a blind eye to
prostitution operating out of a local strip club in exchange for money, a
case that resulted in the ex-official's brother being convicted this week
for his role in what federal prosecutors said was a yearslong scheme.
The former mayor, Eric Kellogg, is not named in federal court documents
and has not been charged. His brother, Rommell Kellogg, 71, of Harvey, was
found guilty Monday on five counts, including conspiracy to commit theft
and intimidation and causing the use of facilities in interstate commerce
to promote theft and intimidation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the
Northern District of Illinois said in a news release.
A criminal complaint against Rommell Kellogg filed in 2019 stated that he
is the brother of the "Mayor of the City of Harvey," a suburb of Chicago.
An attorney for Rommell Kellogg confirmed that his client and the former
mayor are siblings but declined to comment further.
Eric Kellogg left office in the spring of 2019. He could not be reached
for comment Friday.
Eric Kellogg is not mentioned by name in the complaint it only refers to
him as Individual A but he is accused of participating in the
shakedown.
The complaint alleged that in 2003, the former mayor demanded that the
strip club pay him $3,000 a month in exchange for the city allowing the
club to continue to operate. Over the next five years, the payments were
made to him, the complaint said.
In either 2007 or 2008, Eric Kellogg allegedly demanded the payments
increase to $6,000, according to the complaint. When the club initially
refused to pay the increased amount, a Harvey police officer allegedly
ordered the business to shut down, according to the complaint.
The Harvey Police Department did not immediately return a request for
comment on Friday.
Rommell Kellogg is accused of working with a co-conspirator, Corey
Johnson, in the scheme. Prosecutors said that they conspired to regularly
demand and collect payments from the club and threatened "that the city of
Harvey would potentially interfere with the club's operations if the
payments were not made," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
At one point, Johnson began collecting the money and delivering it to the
former mayor, according to the complaint. Johnson, who is the Kellogg's
cousin, pleaded guilty last month to a theft charge, prosecutors said. Gal
Pissetzky, his attorney, released a statement Friday.
"Mr. Johnson pled guilty to a misdemeanor of receiving government funds.
The governments sentencing recommendation is a sentence of not longer
than 6 months, we will see probation," Pissetzky said via email. "We are
very pleased with this fair resolution for the case."
Johnson's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14, according to his
attorney.
The scheme was uncovered following a law enforcement search at the
business in October 2017 on suspicion of prostitution and tax crimes,
according to the complaint. The club's manager began working with law
enforcement. The complaint said that authorities instructed the club to
stop running prostitution out of its business but continue its dealing
with the defendants.
From December 2017 to May 2018, the club allegedly sent payments totaling
$37,000, according to the complaint.
Rommell Kellogg faces up to five years in prison for each count. A
sentencing date has not been set.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex-mayor-illinois-city-allegedly-
forced-strip-club-pay-turned-blind-ey-rcna129985
prostitution operating out of a local strip club in exchange for money, a
case that resulted in the ex-official's brother being convicted this week
for his role in what federal prosecutors said was a yearslong scheme.
The former mayor, Eric Kellogg, is not named in federal court documents
and has not been charged. His brother, Rommell Kellogg, 71, of Harvey, was
found guilty Monday on five counts, including conspiracy to commit theft
and intimidation and causing the use of facilities in interstate commerce
to promote theft and intimidation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the
Northern District of Illinois said in a news release.
A criminal complaint against Rommell Kellogg filed in 2019 stated that he
is the brother of the "Mayor of the City of Harvey," a suburb of Chicago.
An attorney for Rommell Kellogg confirmed that his client and the former
mayor are siblings but declined to comment further.
Eric Kellogg left office in the spring of 2019. He could not be reached
for comment Friday.
Eric Kellogg is not mentioned by name in the complaint it only refers to
him as Individual A but he is accused of participating in the
shakedown.
The complaint alleged that in 2003, the former mayor demanded that the
strip club pay him $3,000 a month in exchange for the city allowing the
club to continue to operate. Over the next five years, the payments were
made to him, the complaint said.
In either 2007 or 2008, Eric Kellogg allegedly demanded the payments
increase to $6,000, according to the complaint. When the club initially
refused to pay the increased amount, a Harvey police officer allegedly
ordered the business to shut down, according to the complaint.
The Harvey Police Department did not immediately return a request for
comment on Friday.
Rommell Kellogg is accused of working with a co-conspirator, Corey
Johnson, in the scheme. Prosecutors said that they conspired to regularly
demand and collect payments from the club and threatened "that the city of
Harvey would potentially interfere with the club's operations if the
payments were not made," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
At one point, Johnson began collecting the money and delivering it to the
former mayor, according to the complaint. Johnson, who is the Kellogg's
cousin, pleaded guilty last month to a theft charge, prosecutors said. Gal
Pissetzky, his attorney, released a statement Friday.
"Mr. Johnson pled guilty to a misdemeanor of receiving government funds.
The governments sentencing recommendation is a sentence of not longer
than 6 months, we will see probation," Pissetzky said via email. "We are
very pleased with this fair resolution for the case."
Johnson's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14, according to his
attorney.
The scheme was uncovered following a law enforcement search at the
business in October 2017 on suspicion of prostitution and tax crimes,
according to the complaint. The club's manager began working with law
enforcement. The complaint said that authorities instructed the club to
stop running prostitution out of its business but continue its dealing
with the defendants.
From December 2017 to May 2018, the club allegedly sent payments totaling
$37,000, according to the complaint.
Rommell Kellogg faces up to five years in prison for each count. A
sentencing date has not been set.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex-mayor-illinois-city-allegedly-
forced-strip-club-pay-turned-blind-ey-rcna129985