John Hooker, one of the four former Commonwealth Edison officials convicted of conspiring to bribe ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. The sentence is well below the recommendation from federal prosecutors of 56 months.

Federal prosecutors have recommended nearly six years in prison for ex-lobbyist Mike McClain over his role in the ComEd bribery scheme tied to Michael Madigan.

John Hooker is the first of four former ComEd officials set to be sentenced in the coming weeks. Prosecutors say he, like Madigan, lied on the witness stand at trial.

Former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan sentenced to 7 1/2 years and fined $2.5 million for corruption in a landmark case against the longest-serving U.S. legislative leader.

He had no reason to commit these crimes, but he chose to do so," Blakey said. The judge also made it clear that Madigan's decision to testify in his own defene at trial backfired, agreeing with prosecutors that the former speaker repeatedly lied on the ...