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For years, Norman Wheaten was an employee in the City of Chicago’s Purchasing Department who helped companies obtain city certification as minority- or women-owned businesses. He also ran an accounting business on the side. The problem is he got the two mixed up. From 1986 to 1990, Wheaten accepted more than $34,000 from about 13 businesses to help with their accounting work and to obtain city certifications. That in effect was bribery because Wheaten was paid a salary by the city to perform his certification duties. Wheaten, 44, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in December to federal charges and is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.
