Former Cicero president enters prison

Friday, Jan. 31, 2003 | 10:34 a.m.

Former Cicero Town President Betty Loren-Maltese reported to a California federal prison for her eight-year racketeering sentence five minutes before the deadline Friday.

Loren-Maltese, convicted for her role in a scheme to bilk corruption-plagued Cicero of $12 million through an insurance fraud, reported to Dublin Federal Correctional Institution at 11:55 a.m., according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. She was registered as prisoner No. 13706-424.

Loren-Maltese, whose mother and 5-year-old adopted daughter live at her home in Las Vegas, originally was ordered to report April 1.

But after federal prosecutors presented evidence she had bet millions of dollars at casinos in recent years and that she has been "binge betting" since her conviction in August, U.S. District Judge John F. Grady in Chicago ordered her to prison by Friday.

Loren-Maltese, 53, was one of seven defendants convicted in a scam that swindled the long-troubled suburb, located just west of Chicago, out of $12 million in insurance funds.

The government is seeking restitution from Loren-Maltese.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Andersson said earlier this week that Loren-Maltese has not only gambled heavily but has worked to hide that from federal prosecutors who are still curious about how much money she has.

"She has progressively become more and more sly in shielding her gambling activities from public scrutiny," he said.