A Chicago Heights official was charged Thursday in federal court with conspiring to extort $12,000 in bribes from a city contractor.
The charges against Ralph Galderio, 60, are part of a continuing federal investigation aimed at corruption among public officials in south suburban Cook County, according to U.S. Atty. Fred Foreman.
Galderio, of Chicago Heights, was accused of conspiring to extort $6,000 in both 1986 and 1987 from Neven Barnett so that Barnett could get tree-trimming contracts in Chicago Heights.
Galderio, currently an assistant program manager for Chicago Heights and formerly assistant superintendent of streets and public improvements there, was charged in a criminal information, which usually means the defendant will plead guilty soon.
Former South Chicago Heights Mayor Donald Prisco and four former Chicago Heights city officials have been convicted of federal bribery or tax charges in recent months.
