A federal judge on Friday sentenced an Oak Brook builder to more than 11 years in prison for bribing a former Berwyn alderman who posed as a corrupt public official in 2002 as part of an undercover FBI investigation.
In imposing the 135-month prison term on developer Clifford Josefik, U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan said a stiff sentence was necessary to demonstrate that “the democratic process cannot be bought.” He also noted Josefik had not shown remorse for his wrongdoing.
In a plea for leniency, Josefik’s attorney, Richard Kling, read letters from Josefik’s grandchildren and spoke of his client’s health concerns. In their writings, the children called Josefik a father figure and described how they had sometimes helped dress him after his health worsened.
Kling told the judge that Josefik has had at least two strokes and suffers from a variety of ailments, including heart disease and diabetes.
Kling said any lengthy period in prison would be a death sentence for a man who turns 71 next month.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Kaarina Salovaara argued that Josefik should be imprisoned because of the serious nature of the crime. He had admitted in February to bribing two public officials and then tampering with a witness in an attempt to cover his tracks.
“He committed crimes, your honor, that strike at the heart of our systems of government,” Salovaara said.
In pleading guilty in February, Josefik had said the $10,000 bribe he paid the alderman in the near west suburb in 2002 was “really for his re-election.” But when pressed, he acknowledged he was attempting to influence the city’s bid process and purchase the city’s former police station at 6647 W. 26th St.
The alderman, Alex Bojovic, was working undercover for federal agents and recorded the bribe. Josefik also offered bribes to the city’s top administrative assistant, Samuel “Sonny” Stillo, who was sentenced to more than 2 years in prison in November.
In a telephone interview Friday, Bojovic said he has no doubt about why Josefik contacted him.
‘It was very clear what he was trying to do — it was to sway my vote,” said Bojovic, who did not seek re-election in 2005. Bojovic said he never believed the money was a campaign donation. “If that’s what he thought, then we should have had a trial,” he said.
Bojovic said he was surprised by the length of the sentence and feels some sympathy for Josefik because of his ailing health.
“But I guess he should have thought of that before he tried to bribe me,” he said.
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jcoen@tribune.com
