Dec. 02--The owner of a suburban sewer repair company with ties to Cicero Town President Larry Dominick pleaded guilty Monday to evading more than $400,000 in federal income taxes.
George Hunter, 60, did not agree to cooperate with federal authorities as part of his guilty plea to two counts of tax evasion. U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve set sentencing for March 3. Hunter, who has no deal with prosecutors on his sentence, faces up to about three years in prison.
Dressed in a gray sweater and jeans, Hunter listened to the proceedings with a court-issued hearing aid. He answered with a gruff, "Yes, your honor," when St. Eve asked him if he understood his constitutional rights.
Hunter, who has no criminal history, will remain free on a personal recognizance bond pending sentencing. He was indicted in October 2013.
Prosecutors alleged that Hunter, who owns Superior Sewer Solution in Stickney, schemed to avoid paying a total of about $410,000 in federal income taxes from 2007 to 2009.
Hunter pleaded guilty to writing more than $400,000 in checks in 2007 and 2008 to two undisclosed people in exchange for cash, then paying his employees in cash and directing them to not report their income. On his tax returns, Hunter then failed to claim wages paid to employees as an expense, the charges alleged.
State election records show that from 2006 to 2008, Hunter and Superior Sewer Solution donated more than $3,000 to a campaign fund controlled by Dominick. Meanwhile, Superior Sewer Solution received more than $1.8 million in no-bid work from Cicero.
Dominick was not accused of any wrongdoing.
jmeisner@tribune.com
Twitter @jmetr22b
